Under mild conditions and without any additional organic solvents, Beckmann
rearrangements of several ketoximes were performed in the catalytic media
consisting of room temperature ionic liquid based on 1,3-dialkylimidazolium
or alkylpyridinium salts and phosphorated compounds. Excellent conversion
and selectivity was achieved for cyclohexanone oxime as the substrate, whil
e Beckmann fragmentation of cyclopentanone oxime was observed. (C) 2001 Els
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