A different regioselective three-component reaction of alkenes, oxygen sources, and hydroperoxides mediated by ammonium iodine to α-oxyperoxidates has been developed. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that regioselective radical addition and subsequent SN2 nucleophilic substitution were possible for the formation of products. In addition to the traditional pathway of SN2 reaction, that is, where nucleophiles attack the α-C atoms at the back side, an additional unusual transition configuration with the H2O molecule attacking the α-C atom at the front side was obtained.
An environment-friendly and efficient dioxygenation of aryl alkenes for the construction of vicinal diols has been developed in water with iodine as the catalyst and tert-butylhydroperoxides (TBHPs) as the oxidant. The protocol was efficient, sustainable, and operationally simple. Detailed mechanistic studies indicated that one of the hydroxyl groups is derived from water and the other one is derived from TBHP. Additionally, the bisperoxides could be obtained in good yields with iodine as the catalyst, Na2CO3 as the additive, and propylene carbonate as the solvent, instead.
