Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of bromoalkenes by homolytic hydrobromination of alkynes with hydrogen bromide

Lewis acid catalyzed Markovnikov hydrobromination and hydrochlorination of alkynes using TMSX (X = Br, Cl)

Markovnikov hydrobromination and hydrochlorination of alkynes were achieved using TMSX (X = Br, Cl) instead of corrosive HX (X = Br, Cl) as the bromination and chlorination reagents. Mn(OAc)2·4H2O was used as the hydrobromination catalyst for electron-neutral/rich alkynes. For the hydrobromination of electron-deficient alkynes and hydrochlorination of alkynes, Zn(OAc)2·2H2O was employed as the catalyst. Mechanistic studies suggested that the in situ formed TMS-substituted alkyne might be a reactive intermediate and the proton of the terminal alkyne should be a hydrogen source for the hydrohalogenation reaction.

Selective C-H Halogenation of Alkenes and Alkynes Using Flavin-Dependent Halogenases

Single component flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) possess both flavin reductase and FDH activity in a single enzyme. We recently reported that the single component FDH AetF catalyzes site-selective bromination and iodination of a variety of aromatic substrates and enantioselective bromolactonization and iodoetherification of styrenes bearing pendant carboxylic acid or alcohol substituents. Given this inherent reactivity and selectivity, we explored the utility of AetF as catalyst for alkene and alkyne C-H halogenation. We find that AetF catalyzes halogenation of a range of 1,1-disubstituted styrenes, often with high stereoselectivity. Despite the utility of haloalkenes for cross-coupling and other applications, accessing these compounds in a stereoselective manner typically requires functional group interconversion processes, and selective halogenation of 1,1'-disubstituted olefins remains rare. We also establish that AetF and homologues of this enzyme can halogenate terminal alkynes. Mutagenesis studies and deuterium kinetic isotope effects are used to support a mechanistic proposal involving covalent catalysis for halogenation of unactivated alkynes by AetF homologues. These findings expand the scope of FDH catalysis and continue to show the unique utility of single component FDHs for biocatalysis.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydrohalogenation of Alkynes Mediated by Trimethylsilyl Triflate

Here we describe a ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective hydrohalogenation reaction of alkynes under mild conditions. Commercially simple halogen sources such as KI, ZnBr₂, and ZnCl₂ were employed to achieve this transformation. Alkynes derived from bioactive molecules such as l-(-)-borneol, l-menthol, and estrone were also suitable for the transformation, demonstrating the potential synthetic value of this new reaction in organic synthesis.