α-Acetoxyarone synthesis via iodine-catalyzed and tert-butyl hydroperoxide-mediateded self-intermolecular oxidative coupling of aryl ketones

We present a metal-free method for α-acetoxyarone synthesis by self-intermolecular oxidative coupling of aryl ketones using I2−tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Under the optimum conditions, various aryl ketones gave the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields. A series of control experiments were performed; the results suggest the involvement of radical pathways. Multiple radical intermediates were generated in situ and the overall process involved several different reactions, which proceeded self-sequentially in a single reactor. A labeling experiment using 18O-labeled H2O confirmed that the oxygen in the product was derived from TBHP, not from H2O in the TBHP solvent.