[opsomath]

Has anyone here ever worked with nitrous oxide as an oxidizing agent or specifically as a source of oxygen in a reaction? I mean an organic transformation, not combustion (you people with NOS kits on your cars just hold it in).

I found one or two references to oxidation reactions which use a complicated transition metal catalyst, but surprisingly little seems to be out there (or else I am using wrong search terms)

http://books.google.com/books?id=tmfC2xNJMVoC&lpg=PA73&ots=Z9AzdYCrDD&dq=nitrous%20oxide%20in%20organic%20synthesis&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q=nitrous%20oxide%20in%20organic%20synthesis&f=false

[curiouscat]

Is there a reason why you'd use it as opposed to more conventional reagents?

[opsomath]

Because I like thinking of new reactions that no one's done before...or rediscovering ones that have got some dust on them. Plus this stuff has nitrogen-nitrogen bonds and living dangerously is the soul of chemistry.

[curiouscat]

Because I like thinking of new reactions that no one's done before...or rediscovering ones that have got some dust on them. Plus this stuff has nitrogen-nitrogen bonds and living dangerously is the soul of chemistry.

Good reasons!