Oxydyénation

Oxydyénation is a term used in some chemical literature to describe a class of transformations in which a substrate undergoes oxidation that is accompanied by the introduction or relocation of oxygen-containing functionality, often with concurrent changes to the carbon framework. The concept is sometimes invoked as an umbrella for reactions that combine oxygen transfer with bond rearrangement, functionalization, or ring modification, rather than a single, well-defined transformation.

Etymology and scope

The name appears in certain French-language sources and in discussions of oxidative processes that go beyond simple hydroxylation or oxygenation. In practice, oxydyénation is not universally defined, and authors may use it to describe a range of oxidative events, including C–H hydroxylation with rearrangement, oxygen-insertion into strained rings, or oxidative skeletal reorganization that yields new oxygenated motifs. Because the term is not standardized, its exact meaning can vary between papers or laboratories.

Mechanistic considerations

Possible mechanisms include radical pathways, single-electron transfer steps, or metal-oxo and photoredox catalysis, where oxygen transfer and bond reorganization occur in a concerted or sequential fashion. Reactions may proceed with varying regio- and chemoselectivity depending on substrate, catalyst, and reaction conditions. The diversity of plausible mechanisms contributes to the ambiguity surrounding the term.

Status and usage

Oxydyénation remains a niche denomination rather than a broadly adopted category in mainstream organic synthesis. In many cases, investigators prefer more specific descriptors—such as oxidation, oxyfunctionalization, or oxidative rearrangement—depending on the actual transformation observed. The term may appear in exploratory reports or theoretical discussions aiming to unify observations under a common conceptual framework.

See also: oxidation, oxyfunctionalization, oxidative rearrangement, radical oxidation.