In this paper, we present an unprecedented and general umpolung protocol that allows the functionalization of silyl enol ethers and of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with a large range of heteroatom nucleophiles, including carboxylic acids, alcohols, primary and secondary amines, azide, thiols, and also anionic carbamates derived from CO2 . The scope of the reaction also extends to carbon-based nucleophiles. The reaction relies on the use of 1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-1λ3 [d][1,2]iodaoxole, which provides a key α-brominated carbonyl intermediate. The reaction mechanism has been studied experimentally and by DFT, and we propose formation of an unusual enolonium intermediate with a halogen-bonded bromide.
Keywords: DFT; enol derivatives; hypervalent iodine(III); mechanistic insight; umpolung.
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