PhICl2 and Wet DMF: An Efficient System for Regioselective Chloroformyloxylation/α-Chlorination of Alkenes/α,β-Unsaturated Compounds

PhICl2 in wet DMF was found to form an efficient system for realizing difunctionalization of various alkenes and olefinic derivatives possessing a wide range of functional groups. This novel methodology provides convenient access to either regioselective chloroformyloxylated products or α-chlorinated olefinic products, depending on the type of structure of the original unsaturated starting material. The mechanism of the reaction is proposed and discussed.