Acid-catalyzed C–O coupling of styrenes with N-hydroxyphthalimide: trapping alkenyl radicals by TEMPO

Abstract A mild metal-free acid-catalyzed 1,2-dihydroxylaminations of alkenes with N -hydroxyphthalimide and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N -oxyl (TEMPO) has been demonstrated under air conditions to furnish the dioxygenated products in good to excellent yields. The dioxygenated product can be easily transformed into ketone derivative using 3-chloroperbenzoic acid ( m -CPBA) as the oxidant in a high yield.