The novel oxidant of sodium hypochlorite
pentahydrate (NaOCl·5H2O) crystals is now available
for industrial and laboratory
use. It is superior to conventional aqueous sodium hypochlorite solutions
(aq. NaOCl). The crystalline material is 44% NaOCl and contains minimal
amounts of sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride, and the aqueous solution,
which is prepared from NaOCl·5H2O and water, has a
pH of 11–12. Examples of the selective organic synthesis using
NaOCl·5H2O involve the oxidations of primary and secondary
alcohols, selective oxidations to sulfoxide and sulfone, oxidative
cleavage of disulfide to sulfonyl chloride and bromide, oxaziridine
synthesis, and oxidative dearomatization of phenols.