I₂-Catalyzed Direct α-Hydroxylation of β-Dicarbonyl Compounds with Atmospheric Oxygen under Photoirradiation

Abstract

An I2-catalyzed hydroxylation of β-dicarbonyl moieties using air as the oxidant under photoirradiation has been developed for the easy preparation of α-hydroxy-β-dicarbonyl compounds. The transformation was completed with only 1 mol % of I2. With α-unsubstituted malonates, the hydroxylated dimerization product was afforded as the predominant product along with a minor product, α,α-dihydroxyl malonate.