Tetrahedron

Mercury (II) oxide/tetrafluoroboric acid-promoted vicinal hydroxy-and alkoxylation of alkenes

J Barluenga, L Alonso-Cires, PJ Campos, G Asensio

Index: Barluenga, Jose; Alonso-Cires, Luisa; Campos, Pedro J.; Asensio, Gregorio Tetrahedron, 1984 , vol. 40, # 13 p. 2563 - 2568

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Citation Number: 12

Abstract

The reaction of alkenes with mercury (II) oxide/tetrafluoroboric acid and alcohols or water involves reduction to Hg (O) and vicinal diethers or diols are produced in good yields. Olefins bearing benzylic hydrogens in an α position lead to cinnamyl ethers. Mechanisms are proposed to account for the products and their stereochemistry.