Copper-catalyzed additions of organic polyhalides to olefins: A versatile synthetic tool

Abstract

New carbon-carbon σ-bonds between olefins or dienes and organic poly-halides bearing at least two geminal halogen atoms on an sp carbon can easily be formed using catalytic amounts of Cu(I)-compounds. This article reviews the Cu(I)-catalysed additions carried out in our laboratories since 1972 as well as selected examples from the literature. It emphasises the usefulness of the poly-functionalized 1:1-adducts for the selective syntheses of an array of more complex compounds such as 2-pyrones, aromatics, pyrethroid acids, pyridines, halogenated α-amino acids and 2-pyrrolidinones. © 1985 IUPAC