Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of N-substituted hydroxylamines: efficient and practical access to nitroso compounds.

A general and efficient aerobic oxidation of N-substituted hydroxylamines is described. The mild reaction conditions employed provide a catalytic and sustainable alternative to stoichiometric oxidation methods to gain access to a range of nitroso compounds, such as acylnitroso, nitrosoformate, nitrosoformamide, iminonitroso, arylnitroso, and P-nitrosophosphine oxide derivatives in excellent yield.