A metal-free electrochemical method for vicinal difunctionalization of various alkenes
with dibromomethane in alcohol as solvent has been well established to synthesize
the corresponding β-bromo-α-alkyloxyalkanes with good functional group tolerance under
ambient conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate the oxidation of bromine
source occurs prior to that of alkene substrate with the involvement of bromine radical
during electrolysis.
Key words
difunctionalization - alkene - β-bromoethers - electrochemical transformation - metal-free
conditions