Trihaloisocyanuric acids as convenient reagents for regioselective halogenation of β-dicarbonyl compounds

Abstract The reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds (β-ketoesters and β-diketones) with 0.34 mol equiv of trichloro- and tribromoisocyanuric acids produced regioselectively the corresponding α-monohalo β-dicarbonyl compound. On the other hand, utilization of 0.68 mol equiv of the trihaloisocyanuric acid produced the α,α-dihalo β-dicarbonyl compound.