Aerobic Copper(II)-catalyzed synthesis of β-hydroxysulfides and selenides from alkenes with disulfides and diselenides

A copper-catalyzed hydroxysulfenylation of alkenes was achieved using disulfides in the presence of n-Bu4NI and H2O. The procedure smoothly proceeded under air atmosphere, and the corresponding β-hydroxysulfides were obtained with regio- and anti-selectivity in good yields. Furthermore, a reaction using diselenides effectively produced the expected β-hydroxyselenides. These reactions could use both chalcogenide groups on dichalcogenides. Further the procedure also worked for hydrosulfenylation using thiols.