Sommelet reaction

The Sommelet reaction is an organic reaction in which a benzyl halide is converted to an aldehyde by action of hexamine and water.

The reaction is formally an oxidation of the carbon. In the related Kröhnke aldehyde synthesis, the oxidizing reagent is a combination of pyridine and p-nitrosodimethylaniline.

The reaction has proved useful for the preparation of aldehydes from amines and halides. Various types of aromatic, heterocyclic, some aliphatic aldehydes and amines have been prepared.