I(2)-catalyzed direct α-hydroxylation of β-dicarbonyl compounds with atmospheric oxygen under photoirradiation.

An I2-catalyzed hydroxylation of β-dicarbonyl moieties using air as the oxidant under photoirradiation has been developed for the easy preparation of α-hydroxy-β-dicarbonyl compounds. The transformation was completed with only 1 mol % of I2. With α-unsubstituted malonates, the hydroxylated dimerization product was afforded as the predominant product along with a minor product, α,α-dihydroxyl malonate.