Oxidant controlled regio- and stereodivergent azidohydroxylation of alkenes via I2 catalysis

A novel, I-2 catalyzed regio-and stereodivergent vicinal azidohydroxylation of alkenes leading to 1,2-azidoalcohols in high yields (up to 92%) and excellent dr (up to 98%) has been developed. This unprecedented transformation employs NaN3 and DMF as N-and O-nucleophiles respectively. The role of DMF as the O-source in the reaction has been unequivocally proven by O-18 labelling studies.