Visible-Light-Initiated Hydrooxygenation of Unactivated Alkenes─A Strategy for Anti-Markovnikov Hydrofunctionalization
Linda Quach, Subhabrata Dutta, Philipp M. Pflüger, Frederik Sandfort, Peter Bellotti, Frank Glorius
Abstract
Hydrofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes is an indispensable mean in synthetic chemistry. Given that addition of electrophilic species into alkenes intrinsically follows the Markovnikov rule, a regioselectivity switch presents a major challenge. Herein, we present a visible-light-promoted strategy for the selective anti-Markovnikov hydrooxygenation of unactivated alkenes. Therefore, an innovative reagent was carefully designed to release a highly reactive and strongly underdeveloped alkoxycarbonyloxyl radical upon reduction, which selectively adds into alkenes. Hydrogen atom abstraction from 2-phenylmalononitrile is the key to form the product. We believe that this methodology enlarges the toolbox for regioselective hydrofunctionalization and could serve as a complementary strategy to the established hydroboration/oxidation protocol.