Reductive and oxidative synthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty aldehydes

Saturated and unsaturated fatty aldehydes were synthesized 99+% pure with yields of up to 80% by the reduction of 1-acylaziridines with lithium aluminum hydride, and in yields of up to 87% by oxidation of the corresponding alcohol with 1-chlorobenzotriazole. It was found for the reduction that optimum aldehyde yield was obtained with a mole ratio of reactants, consisting of acid chloride–ethylenimine–triethylamine–LiAlH4, equal to 1:2:2:2. Optimum conditions for alcohol oxidation were found to be a mole ratio of oxidant to alcohol of 1:1.3 with refluxing for 45 min in methylene chloride containing 25% pyridine. Methods for the purification of the final product are also described. Purity criteria were thin-layer and gas–liquid chromatography and infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.