I2-catalyzed regioselective oxo- and hydroxy-acyloxylation of alkenes and enol ethers: a facile access to α-acyloxyketones, esters, and diol derivatives.

I2-catalyzed oxo-acyloxylation of alkenes and enol ethers with carboxylic acids providing for the high yield synthesis of α-acyloxyketones and esters is described. This unprecedented regioselective oxidative process employs TBHP and Et3N in stoichiometric amounts under metal-free conditions in DMSO as solvent. Additionally, I2-catalysis allows the direct hydroxy-acyloxylation of alkenes with the sequential addition of BH3·SMe2 leading to monoprotected diol derivatives in excellent yields.