Enantioselective Phenolic α-Oxidation Using H₂O₂ via an Unusual Double Dearomatization Mechanism

Feedstock aromatic compounds are compelling low-cost starting points from which molecular complexity can be generated rapidly via oxidative dearomatization. Oxidative dearomatizations commonly rely heavily on hypervalent iodine or heavy metals to provide the requisite thermodynamic driving force for overcoming aromatic stabilization energy. This article describes oxidative dearomatizations of 2-(hydroxymethyl)phenols via their derived...