Photo-mediated selective deconstructive geminal dihalogenation of trisubstituted alkenes

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 8;11(1):4462. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18274-2.

Abstract

Selective deconstructive functionalization of alkenes, other than the well-established olefin metathesis and ozonolysis, to produce densely functionalized molecular scaffolds is highly attractive but challenging. Here we report an efficient photo-mediated deconstructive germinal dihalogenation of carbon-carbon double bonds. A wide range of geminal diiodoalkanes and bromo(iodo)alkanes (>40 examples) are directly prepared from various trisubstituted alkenes, including both cyclic and acyclic olefins. This C=C cleavage is highly chemoselective and produces geminal dihalide ketones in good yields. Mechanistic investigations suggest a formation of alkyl hypoiodites from benzyl alcohols and N-iodoimides, which undergo light-induced homolytic cleavage to generate active oxygen radical species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't