Kornblum

Kornblum can refer to two distinct entities in chemistry, both associated with Nathan Kornblum:

• Kornblum Oxidation: This is a chemical reaction for the oxidation of alkyl halides to aldehydes and ketones using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The reaction proceeds via an SN2 reaction of the alkyl halide with DMSO, forming an alkoxysulfonium salt intermediate. This salt is then deprotonated by a base to form a sulfur ylide, which decomposes to the carbonyl compound and dimethyl sulfide.

• Kornblum De la Mare Reaction: This is a chemical reaction in organic chemistry describing the base-induced decomposition of an organic peroxide to a ketone and an alcohol. The reaction is particularly useful for converting vicinal dihalides into α-hydroxyketones. The mechanism involves the formation of a peroxide intermediate, followed by base-catalyzed decomposition to the carbonyl compound and alcohol. It is named after Nathan Kornblum and Harold E. De la Mare.