title: Mechanistic insights on the iodine(III)-mediated α-oxidation of ketones.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke, Department of Chemistry, CCVC, 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1 (Canada) http://cyl.recherche.usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke, Department of Chemistry, CCVC, 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1 (Canada) http://cyl.recherche.usherbrooke.ca. claude.legault@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Claude Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Legault
keywords: carbonyl compounds; enolization; hypervalent iodine; iodane; reaction mechanisms