Metal-free halogen(I) catalysts were used for the selective oxidation of aryl(heteroaryl)methanes [C(sp )-H] to ketones [C(sp )=O] or esters [C(sp )-O]. The synthesis of ketones was performed with a catalytic amount of NBS in DMSO solvent. Experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported the formation of halogen bonding (XB) between the heteroarene and N-bromosuccinimide, which enabled imine-enamine tautomerism of the substrates. No additional activator was required for this crucial step. Isotope-labeling and other supporting experiments suggested that a Kornblum-type oxidation with DMSO and aerobic oxygenation with molecular oxygen took place simultaneously. A background XB-assisted electron transfer between the heteroarenes and halogen(I) catalysts was responsible for the formation of heterobenzylic radicals and, thus, the aerobic oxygenation. For selective acyloxylation (ester formation), a catalytic amount of iodine was employed with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in aliphatic carboxylic acid solvent. Several control reactions, spectroscopic studies, and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations established the presence of acetyl hypoiodite as an active halogen(I) species in the acetoxylation process. With the help of a selectivity study, for the first time we report that the strength of the XB interaction and the frontier orbital mixing between the substrates and acyl hypoiodites determined the extent of the background electron-transfer process and, thus, the selectivity of the reaction.

CBr has been employed as a halogen bond donor catalyst for the selective activation of aldehyde, to achieve an efficient solvent- and metal-free C═C bond forming reaction in the presence of strong acid sensitive groups such as methoxy, cyanide, ester, and ketal for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones. This unique capability of CBr to act as a halogen bond donor has been explored and established using UV-vis as well as IR spectroscopy. Moreover, this unprecedented methodology enables the synthesis of the pharmaceutically important molecule licochalcone A.

A metal-free one-pot strategy has been developed for the first time to synthesize pharmaceutically important α-amino ketones from readily available benzylic secondary alcohols and amines using N-bromosuccinimide. This new reaction proceeds via three consecutive steps involving oxidation of alcohols, α-bromination of ketones, and nucleophilic substitution of α-bromo ketones to give α-amino ketones. Importantly, this novel one-pot greener reaction avoids direct usage of toxic and corrosive bromine. This methodology has been employed efficiently to synthesize pharmaceutically important amfepramone and pyrovalerone in a single step.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of thioether directly from heteroarenes has been developed in the presence of visible light in a one-pot manner at room temperature. This method involves two sequential reactions in a single pot where the formation of the iodinated heteroarene is followed by a transition-metal-free C–S coupling reaction. A wide range of heteroarene and thiol partners (including aliphatic thiols) have been used for the synthesis of thioethers. NMR studies and DFT calculations revealed the presence of a halogen bond between the thiolate anion (halogen bond acceptor) and iodoheteroarene (halogen bond donor). This halogen bonded complex on photoexcitation facilitates the electron transfer from the thiolate anion to the iodoheteroarene at room temperature.

The widespread use of halogen‐based reagents in organic synthesis is well known. Hypervalent halogens (oxidation states III and V) have been explored to a significant extent. Among them, hypervalent iodine reagents have found major use and applications. In contrast, understanding of the reactivity of halogen(I) species in the presence of Lewis bases, and their reaction mechanisms, are very limited. This microreview sheds light on the importance of halogen(I) species and their applications in organic synthesis. In commercially available halogen(I) precursors such as N‐halosuccinimides, the halogen atom is attached to the nitrogen atom through a covalent bond with low electrophilicity and thus low reactivity. Interestingly, the reactivity increases if the electrophilic halogen(I) atom is attached to a Lewis base through a polarized covalent bond. The halogen‐bonding interaction between the Lewis base and the halonium ion (or halonium ion equivalent) results in highly reactive and thermodynamically stable halogen(I) intermediates that act as versatile reagents. This microreview unravels the evolution of the unstable halogen(I) intermediates to become versatile reagents.