Halogenation through Deoxygenation of Alcohols and Aldehydes

An efficient reagent system, Ph3P/XCH2CH2X (X = Cl, Br, or I), was very effective for the deoxygenative halogenation (including fluorination) of alcohols (including tertiary alcohols) and aldehydes. The easily available 1,2-dihaloethanes were used as key reagents and halogen sources. The use of (EtO)3P instead of Ph3P could also realize deoxy-halogenation, allowing for a convenient purification process, as the byproduct (EtO)3P═O could be removed by aqueous washing. The mild reaction conditions, wide substrate scope, and wide availability of 1,2-dihaloethanes make this protocol attractive for the synthesis of halogenated compounds.