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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Mild Direct Remote Hydroxylation of Enals in Air
Fernanda Liu1, Alessandro Vicidomini1, Stacey E Brenner-Moyer1
1Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Newark, 73 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
Abstract:
A mild direct remote hydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Air is the oxidant, and tertiary alcohol products are generated in up to 80% yield. This method selectively hydroxylates enals with acidic γ-carbons and therefore may be suitable for late-stage installation of remote hydroxyl groups on medicinal aldehydes. Mechanistic studies that enabled the development of this transformation are described, as is the first example of catalytic enantioselective γ-hydroxylation of an enal.
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