An Enantioconvergent Benzylic Hydroxylation Using a Chiral Aryl Iodide in a Dual Activation Mode

The application of a triazole-substituted chiral iodoarene in a direct enantioselective hydroxylation of alkyl arenes is reported. This method allows the rapid synthesis of chiral benzyl alcohols in high yields and stereocontrol, despite its nontemplated nature. In a cascade activation consisting of an initial irradiation-induced radical C-H-bromination and a consecutive enantioconvergent hydroxylation, the iodoarene catalyst has a dual role. It initiates the radical bromination in its oxidized state through an in-situ-formed bromoiodane and in the second, Cu-catalyzed step, it acts as a chiral ligand. This work demonstrates the ability of a chiral aryl iodide catalyst acting both as an oxidant and as a chiral ligand in a highly enantioselective C-H-activating transformation. Furthermore, this concept presents an enantioconvergent hydroxylation with high selectivity using a synthetic catalyst.