Mechanistic Insights on the Iodine(III)‐Mediated α‐Oxidation of Ketones

The synthesis of α‐substituted carbonyl compounds is of great importance due to their ubiquity in both natural and man‐made biologically active compounds. The field of hypervalent iodine chemistry has been a great contributor to access these molecules. For example, the α‐oxidation of carbonyl compounds has been one of the most investigated iodine(III)‐mediated stereoselective transformations. Yet, it is also the transformation that has met the most challenge in terms of achieving high stereoselectivities. The different mechanistic pathways of the iodine(III)‐mediated α‐tosyloxylation of ketones have been investigated. The calculations suggest an unprecedented iodine(III)‐promoted enolization process. Indications that iodonium intermediates could serve as proficient Lewis acids are reported. This concept could have broad impact and foster new developments in the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry.     

Hypervalent Iodine(III) Sulfonate Mediated Synthesis of 6‐Arylimidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles in Liquid PEG‐400

PEG‐400[poly(ethylene glycol‐400)] is used as reaction medium in the one‐pot synthesis of 6‐arylimidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles by reaction with aryl ketones, hypervalent iodine(III) sulfonate and 2‐aminothiazole. Significant rate enhancements and improved yields have been observed.     

Vicinal Difunctionalization of Alkenes with Iodine(III) Reagents and Catalysts

Hypervalent iodine(III) reagents have been known for over a century, and their reaction profile is still actively investigated. Recent years have seen impressive improvements in the area of alkene difunctionalization reactions, where new methodologies have become available. Especially chiral non‐racemic hypervalent iodine(III) reagents and catalysts have emerged as versatile tools for the realization of important enantioselective transformations.     

The Multiple Facets of Iodine(III) Compounds in an Unprecedented Catalytic Auto‐amination for Chiral Amine Synthesis

Iodine(III) reagents are used in catalytic one‐pot reactions, first as both oxidants and substrates, then as cross‐coupling partners, to afford chiral polyfunctionalized amines. The strategy relies on an initial catalytic auto C(sp³)?H amination of the iodine(III) oxidant, which delivers an amine‐derived iodine(I) product that is subsequently used in palladium‐catalyzed cross‐couplings to afford a variety of useful building blocks with high yields and excellent stereoselectivities. This study demonstrates the concept of self‐amination of the hypervalent iodine reagents, which increases the value of the aryl moiety.     

Structurally Defined Molecular Hypervalent Iodine Catalysts for Intermolecular Enantioselective Reactions

Molecular structures of the most prominent chiral non‐racemic hypervalent iodine(III) reagents to date have been elucidated for the first time. The formation of a chirally induced supramolecular scaffold based on a selective hydrogen‐bonding arrangement provides an explanation for the consistently high asymmetric induction with these reagents. As an exploratory example, their scope as chiral catalysts was extended to the enantioselective dioxygenation of alkenes. A series of terminal styrenes are converted into the corresponding vicinal diacetoxylation products under mild conditions and provide the proof of principle for a truly intermolecular asymmetric alkene oxidation under iodine(I/III) catalysis.     

Metal‐Free Enantioselective Oxidative Arylation of Alkenes: Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Promoted Oxidative C−C Bond Formation

The enantioselective oxyarylation of (E)‐6‐aryl‐1‐silyloxylhex‐3‐ene was achieved using a lactate‐based chiral hypervalent iodine(III) reagent in the presence of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate. The silyl ether promotes the oxidative cyclization, and enhances the enantioselectivity. In addition, the corresponding aminoarylation was achieved.     

Chiral Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Synthesis and Reactivity

Chiral hypervalent iodine chemistry has been steadily increasing in importance in recent years. This review catalogues enantioselective transformations triggered by chiral hypervalent iodine(III/V) reagents, in stoichiometric or catalytic quantities, highlighting the different reactivities in terms of yield and enantioselectivity. Moreover, the synthesis of the most remarkable and successful catalysts has been illustrated in detail.     

Alternative Strategies with Iodine: Fast Access to Previously Inaccessible Iodine(III) Compounds

Non‐iodinated arenes can be easily and selectively converted into (diacetoxyiodo)arenes in a single step under mild conditions by using iodine triacetates as reagents. The oxidative step is decoupled from the synthesis of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents, which can now be prepared conveniently in a one‐pot synthesis for subsequent reactions without prior purification. The chemistry of iodine triacetates was also expanded to heteroatom ligand exchanges to form novel inorganic hypervalent iodine compounds.     

Chiral Ligands in Hypervalent Iodine Compounds: Synthesis and Structures of Binaphthyl-Based λ3-Iodanes

Several novel binaphthyl-based chiral hypervalent iodine(III) reagents have been prepared and structurally analysed. Various asymmetric oxidative reactions were applied to evaluate the reactivities and stereoselectivities of those reagents. Moderate to excellent yields were observed; however, very low stereoselectivities were obtained. NMR experiments indicated that these reagents are very easily hydrolysed in either chloroform or DMSO solvents leading to the limited stereoselectivities. It is concluded that the use of chiral ligands is an unsuccessful way to prepare efficient stereoselective iodine(III) reagents.     

Hypervalent‐Iodine(III)‐Mediated Oxidative Methodology for the Synthesis of Fused Triazoles

The organic chemistry of hypervalent organoiodine compounds has been an area of unprecedented development. This surge in interest in the use of hypervalent iodine compounds has mainly been owing to their highly selective oxidizing properties, environmentally benign character and commercial availability. Hypervalent iodine reagents have also been used as an alternative to toxic heavy metals, owing to their low toxicity and ease of handling. Hypervalent organoiodine(III) reagents are versatile oxidants that have been successfully employed to extend the scope of selective oxidative transformations of complex organic molecules in synthetic chemistry. This Focus Review concerns the tandem in situ generation and 1,5‐electrocyclization of N‐heteroaryl nitrilimines into fused triazoles. We describe the importance of recently developed hypervalent‐organoiodine(III)‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization reactions, building towards the conclusion that hypervalent iodine chemistry is a promising frontier for oxidative cyclization, in particular of hydrazones, for the synthesis of fused triazoles.     

C−N Axial Chiral Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Catalytic Stereoselective α-Oxytosylation of Ketones

A simple synthesis of a library of novel C−N axially chiral iodoarenes is achieved in a three-step synthesis from commercially available aniline derivatives. C−N axial chiral iodine reagents are rarely investigated in the hypervalent iodine arena. The potential of the novel chiral iodoarenes as organocatalysts for stereoselective oxidative transformations is assessed using the well explored, but challenging stereoselective α-oxytosylation of ketones. All investigated reagents catalyse the stereoselective oxidation of propiophenone to the corresponding chiral α-oxytosylated products with good stereochemical control. Using the optimised reaction conditions a wide range of products was obtained in generally good to excellent yields and with good enantioselectivities.     

Hypervalent Iodine‐Catalyzed Oxidative Functionalizations Including Stereoselective Reactions

Hypervalent iodine chemistry is now a well‐established area of organic chemistry. Novel hypervalent iodine reagents have been introduced in many different transformations owing to their mild reaction conditions and environmentally friendly nature. Recently, these reagents have received particular attention because of their applications in catalysis. Numerous hypervalent iodine‐catalyzed oxidative functionalizations such as oxidations of various alcohols and phenols, α‐functionalizations of carbonyl compounds, cyclizations, and rearrangements have been developed successfully. In these catalytic reactions stoichiometric oxidants such as mCPBA or oxone play a crucial role to generate the iodine(III) or iodine(V) species in situ. In this Focus Review, recent developments of hypervalent iodine‐catalyzed reactions are described including some asymmetric variants. Catalytic reactions using recyclable hypervalent iodine catalysts are also covered.     

Solvent‐Free One Pot Synthesis of 2‐aryl/Heteroarylbenzothiazoles Using Hypervalent Iodine (III) Reagents

In this article, an efficient, environmentally benign, one‐pot and simple synthesis of 2‐aryl/heteroarylbenzothiazoles by the reaction of 2‐aminothiophenol and aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes mediated by hypervalent iodine (III) reagents under solvent‐free condition at room temperature is demonstrated. All the reactions were carried out by grinding the reactants (2‐aminothiophenol and aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes) with hypervalent iodine (III) reagents in a mortar with pestle. Phenyliodine bistrifluoroacetate act as an efficient oxidizing reagent in comparison to iodobenzene diacetate in term of reaction time but yields are comparative. The advantages of this protocol are the one‐step procedure, mild reaction conditions, high yields of the products, and no side reactions.     

Metal‐Free CH Bond Activation of Branched Aldehydes with a Hypervalent Iodine(III) Catalyst under Visible‐Light Photolysis: Successful Trapping with Electron‐Deficient Olefins

Direct acyl radical formation of linear aldehydes (RCH₂‐CHO) and subsequent hydroacylation with electron‐deficient olefins can be effected with various types of metal and nonmetal catalysts/reagents. In marked contrast, however, no successful reports on the use of branched aldehydes have been made thus far because of their strong tendency of generating alkyl radicals through the facile decarbonylation of acyl radicals. Here, use of a hypervalent iodine(III) catalyst under visible light photolysis allows a mild way of generating acyl radicals from various branched aldehydes, thereby giving the corresponding hydroacylated products almost exclusively. Another characteristic feature of this approach is the catalytic use of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, which is a rare example on the generation of radicals in hypervalent iodine chemistry.     

Metal‐Free C?H Bond Activation of Branched Aldehydes with a Hypervalent Iodine(III) Catalyst under Visible‐Light Photolysis: Successful Trapping with Electron‐Deficient Olefins

Direct acyl radical formation of linear aldehydes (RCH₂‐CHO) and subsequent hydroacylation with electron‐deficient olefins can be effected with various types of metal and nonmetal catalysts/reagents. In marked contrast, however, no successful reports on the use of branched aldehydes have been made thus far because of their strong tendency of generating alkyl radicals through the facile decarbonylation of acyl radicals. Here, use of a hypervalent iodine(III) catalyst under visible light photolysis allows a mild way of generating acyl radicals from various branched aldehydes, thereby giving the corresponding hydroacylated products almost exclusively. Another characteristic feature of this approach is the catalytic use of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, which is a rare example on the generation of radicals in hypervalent iodine chemistry.     

Hypervalent Iodine(III)‐Catalyzed Balz–Schiemann Fluorination under Mild Conditions

An unprecedented hypervalent iodine(III) catalyzed Balz–Schiemann reaction is described. In the presence of a hypervalent iodine compound, the fluorination reaction proceeds under mild conditions (25–60 °C), and features a wide substrate scope and good functional‐group compatibility.     

Reactions between Diazo Compounds and Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents

Site‐selective “cut and sew” transformations employing diazo compounds and hypervalent iodine(III) compounds involve the departure of leaving groups, a “cut” process, followed by a reorganization of the fragments by bond formation, a “sew” process. Bearing controllable cleavage sites, diazo compounds and hypervalent iodine(III) compounds play a critical role as versatile reagents in a wide range of organic transformations because their excellent nucleofugality allows for a large number of unusual reactions to occur. In recent years, the combination of diazo compounds and hypervalent iodine(III) reagents has emerged as a promising tool for developing new and valuable approaches, and has met considerable success. In this Minireview, this combination is systematically illustrated with recent advances in the field, with the aim of elaborating the synthetic utility and potential of this concept as a powerful strategy in organic synthesis.     

Enantioselective Prévost and Woodward reactions using chiral hypervalent iodine(III): switchover of stereochemical course of an optically active 1,3-dioxolan-2-yl cation

Optically active 1,3-dioxolan-2-yl cation intermediates were generated during enantioselective dioxyacetylation of alkene with chiral hypervalent iodine(III). Regioselective attack of a nucleophile toward the intermediate resulted in reversal of enantioselectivity of the dioxyacetylation.     

C−H Oxygenation Reactions Enabled by Dual Catalysis with Electrogenerated Hypervalent Iodine Species and Ruthenium Complexes

The catalytic generation of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents by anodic electrooxidation was orchestrated towards an unprecedented electrocatalytic C?H oxygenation of weakly coordinating aromatic amides and ketones. Thus, catalytic quantities of iodoarenes in concert with catalytic amounts of ruthenium(II) complexes set the stage for versatile C?H activations with ample scope and high functional group tolerance. Detailed mechanistic studies by experiment and computation substantiate the role of the iodoarene as the electrochemically relevant species towards C?H oxygenations with electricity as a sustainable oxidant and molecular hydrogen as the sole by‐product. para‐Selective C?H oxygenations likewise proved viable in the absence of directing groups.     

Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagent Mediated Synthesis of 2‐Methylbenzofuran Derivatives by Pummerer‐type Reaction in Ionic Liquid

An efficient route for the synthesis of 2‐methylbenzofuran derivatives utilizing hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and a‐(methylthio)acetone via Pummerer‐type reaction in ionic liquid is described.