No abstract

Electrophilic halogenation reactions have been a reliable approach to accessing organohalides. During the past decades, various catalytic systems have been developed for the activation of haleniums. However, there is still a short of effective catalysts, which could cover various halogenation reactions and broad scope of unsaturated compounds. Herein, TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine nitroxide) and its derivatives are disclosed as active catalysts for electrophilic halogenation of olefins, alkynes, and aromatics. These catalysts are stable, readily available, and reactive enough to activate haleniums including Br+, I+ and even Cl+ reagents. This catalytic system is applicable to various halogenations including haloarylation of olefins or dibromination of alkynes, which were rarely realized in previous Lewis base catalysis or Lewis acid catalysis. The high catalytic ability is attributed to a synergistic activation model of electrophilic halogenating reagents, where the carbonyl group and the halogen atom are both activated by present TEMPO catalysis.

The simple and readily available I2 catalyst, and a cheap and common DMSO oxidant could be employed for the transformation of cyclohexenones to meta- and multiple-substituted phenols with significant tolerance to various functional substituents.

β-Halohydrins bearing transformable halo- and hydroxyl groups, are easily converted into various valuable blocks in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis. A diastereoselective β-halogenation of benzylic alcohols was achieved under simple and low-cost conditions, which provided a direct synthesis of β-halohydrins. The simple reaction conditions, easily available reagents, high diastereoselectivities, and additional oxidant-free make this reaction very attractive and practical.