Dihydroxylation of Olefins with Potassium Permanganate Catalyzed by Imidazolium Salt

The development of an efficient and cost-effective cis-di­hydroxylation reaction of acrylate derivatives was achieved. The reaction proceeded in acetone with an imidazolium salt as catalyst to furnish the dihydroxylation of olefins at 0–5 °C using KMnO4 as the oxidant. This efficient and non-aqueous protocol was highly suitable for the large-scale preparation of cis-dihydroxylated compounds from the corresponding acrylate derivatives in high yields without overoxidation.