Tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB)-initiated carbonylation–peroxidation of styrene derivatives with aldehydes and hydroperoxides

Abstract

Tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB)-catalyzed carbonylation–peroxidation of styrene derivatives is described, which allows for the synthesis of β-peroxy ketones under mild conditions. The ease of handling, low cost, and environmentally friendly bromine catalyst made this protocol very practical. Mechanistic studies revealed that it was a bromine initiated radical difunctionalization of alkenes.