Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
Tosyloxybenziodoxolone: A Platform for Performing the Umpolung of Alkynes in One-Pot Transformations
1Laboratory of Catalysis and Organic Synthesis and NCCR Catalysis, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCSO, BCH 1402, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Ethynylbenziodoxolones (EBXs) are commonly encountered reagents for the electrophilic alkynylation of nucleophiles. Herein, we report a one-pot, two-step process for EBX generation and their direct application in substrate functionalization. Our approach enables us to bypass the originally mandatory isolation and purification of the reagents, resulting in a more efficient synthesis. We could apply this process to seven different transformations involving both two- and one-electron nucleophiles to obtain a large variety of alkynylated products.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes

