One-pot two-step oxidative cleavage of 1,2-arylalkenes to aryl ketones instead of arylaldehydes in an aqueous medium: A complementary approach to ozonolysis

A new approach has been developed for a one-pot and selective oxidative cleavage of aryl- and 1,2-diarylalkenes leading to one-carbon shorter aryl ketones; thereby, providing a complementary approach to classical ozonolysis. The methodology was applicable to diverse aromatic and polyaromaticarylalkenes bearing electron-donating or -withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring. The protocol also provided a useful one-pot oxidative cleavage-condensation sequence, which could potentially have important applications in natural product total synthesis. A one-pot, two-step approach has been achieved for the oxidative cleavage of 1,2-disubstituted arylalkenes into the corresponding aryl ketones instead of arylaldehydes (see scheme; NIS = N-iodosuccinimide; CTAB = cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; PDC/TBHP = pyridinium dichromate/tert-butyl hydroperoxide). The methodology also led to a valuable one-pot oxidative cleavage-condensation reaction that has widespread utility in the total synthesis of natural products.