Dearomatization Reactions Using Phthaloyl Peroxide

A new oxidative dearomatization reaction has been developed using phthaloyl peroxide to chemoselectively install two oxygen–carbon bonds into aromatic precursors. The oxidation reaction proceeds only once; addition of superstoichiometric equivalents of phthaloyl peroxide does not react further with the newly generated 1,3-cyclohexadiene. The reaction has been challenged by the addition of different functional groups and shown to maintain chemoselectivity. Due to the broad reactivity with 1,2-methylenedioxybenzene derivatives, linear free energy correlations were determined and support a mechanism proceeding through diradicals analogous to arene-hydroxylation reactions using phthaloyl peroxide.