Solvents Inducing Oxidation of Hydroxylamines

Hydroxylamines gradually undergo oxidation to their oximes on being dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. methanol). This phenomenon was followed by 1H-NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The oxidation rate was estimated from the peak area observed on the mass chromatogram at the protonated molecule or fragment ion on LC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-MS. The results showed that the oxidation rate of hydroxylamines depended on the solvent type.