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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
Photochemical Functionalization of Heterocycles with EBX Reagents: C-H Alkynylation versus Deconstructive Ring
Errika Voutyritsa1,2, Marion Garreau2, Maroula G Kokotou1
1Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
The development of novel methodologies for the functionalization of saturated heterocycles is highly desirable. Herein, we report a cheap and efficient photochemical method for the C-H functionalization of saturated O-heterocycles, as well as the deconstructive ring-cleavage of S-heterocycles, employing hypervalent iodine alkynylation reagents (ethynylbenziodoxolones, EBX). This photochemical alkynylation is performed utilizing phenylglyoxylic acid as the photoinitiator, leading to the corresponding products in good to high yields, under household fluorescent light bulb irradiation. When O-heterocycles were employed, the expected α-C-H alkynylation took place. In contrast, oxidative ring-opening to form a thioalkyne and an aldehyde was observed with S-heterocycles. Preliminary mechanistic experiments are presented to give first insights into this puzzling divergent reactivity.
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