Oximes

Overview

Oximes are a class of organic compounds characterised by a carbon–nitrogen double bond in which the nitrogen also bears a hydroxyl group, giving the general structure of a C=N–OH unit. They are typically formed by the reaction of aldehydes or ketones with hydroxylamine, producing aldoximes from aldehydes and ketoximes from ketones. This straightforward and reliable formation makes oximes useful tools in chemistry. Historically, oximes have been important for the identification, purification, and characterisation of carbonyl compounds, since they form stable, often crystalline derivatives. They also serve as versatile intermediates in organic synthesis, participating in reactions such as the Beckmann rearrangement, which converts ketoximes into amides, and acting as precursors to amines, nitriles, and other nitrogen-containing molecules. Oximes are valued for their ability to coordinate to metal ions, making them useful as ligands and analytical reagents, and certain oximes have practical applications in fields such as medicine and agriculture. Their distinctive reactivity and structural features keep them relevant to ongoing work in synthetic and applied chemistry. As a functional group bridging carbonyl and amine chemistry, oximes illustrate how simple transformations can open routes to a wide range of products. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research in New Developments in Chemistry relevant to organic compounds and synthetic methods.

Research published in this journal

1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

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