Bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS) in ionic liquid: a mild and efficient catalyst for Beckmann rearrangement

Bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS)-catalyzed Beckmann rearrangement of a variety of ketoximes has been carried out in the imidazolium-based ionic liquid [bmim]PF6 under mild conditions without using any additional cocatalyst or solvent to afford excellent conversion and selectivity. The ionic liquid is recovered and reused for up to three runs without any loss of efficiency.