text: The Boekelheide reaction is a rearrangement of α-picoline-N-oxides to hydroxymethylpyridines. It is named after Virgil Boekelheide who first reported it in 1954. Originally the reaction was carried out using acetic anhydride, which typically required a period at reflux (~140 °C). The reaction can be performed using trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA), which often allows for a room temperature reaction.