Harnessing the Formyloxy Radical

In a joint experimental-computational study with the research group of Prof. Neumann, we look at the reactivity of the electrochemically-generated formyloxy radical. This electrophilic radical reacts with a variety of substrates to give the corresponding esters of formic acid. Thus, with substituted benzenes, the phenyl formate ester is obtained while with terminal olefins, the anti-Markovnikov product is predominantly obtained.

What to learn more? See M. Somekh, M. A. Iron, A. M. Khenkin and R. Neumann, Chemical Sciences 2020, 11, 11584-11591 (read online).