The Chemistry of Hydroxylamines, Oximes and Hydroxamic Acids

The present book, The Chemistry of Hydroxylamines, Oximes and Hydroxamic Acids, deals with the chemistry of three related functional groups that were not hitherto treated in ‘The Chemistry of Functional Groups’ series. Professor Artem Melman, then at the Hebrew University, who felt that such a book would be valuable, suggested the title.

The two parts of the present volume contain 18 chapters written by experts from 14 countries. They include theoretical aspects, structural analysis, thermochemistry and NMR spectra of the three groups, chapters on the synthesis of the groups and on synthetic aspects, such as their use for synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic systems, the use of hydroxylamines and oximes for electrophilic amination, their use as analytical reagents, their electrochemistry and rearrangements both in the laboratory and in large-scale industry. Biological properties and use as therapeutic agents as well as the iron transfer ability of natural hydroxamic acids are covered in several chapters. Mechanistic aspects of these systems, including their effect as substituents, with emphasis on their α-effects, which are important both theoretically and as anti-toxic agents, are covered in two chapters. One sub-group, the N-heteroatom-substituted hydroxamic acids, is covered extensively from the synthetic, theoretical and biological aspects. Special chapters are devoted to related topics such as nitroxyl radicals, nitrosomethanides and their acids.