A CLEAN ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS OF 2-HYDROXYLTHIOPHENE [THIOPHENE-2(5H)-ONE] BY A FENTON-LIKE [COPPER(II)-HYDROGEN PEROXIDE] OXIDATION OF THIOPHENE UNDER AQUEOUS CONDITIONS

Treatment of thiophene, suspended in an aqueous acidified solution of copper(III) sulfate, with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature result s in a clean conversion into 2-hydroxythiophen in 59% yield, providing a simple route to this system; the use of other Fenton-like reagents also results in formation of 2-hydroxythiophene, but overall yields ar e lower.