Organocatalytic peroxidation of malonates, β-ketoesters, and cyanoacetic esters using n-Bu4NI/t-BuOOH-mediated intermolecular oxidative C(sp3)-O coupling

A new organocatalytic approach for the synthesis of peroxides based on CH activation of a sp(3)-hybridized carbon atom is reported. Peroxides were prepared in 31-89% yield by the reaction of malonates, beta-ketoesters, and cyanoacetic esters with a Bu4NI/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system. The formation of the expected hydroxylation products was not observed. In the discovered reaction, tert-butyl hydroperoxide plays a dual role by acting as the oxidant and the O-reagent for the C-O coupling. The synthesis can be scaled up to generate gram quantities of the target products. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.