Photocatalytic Esterification−Peroxidation of Alkenes: Divergent Synthesis of Phenylpropanoids with Vicinal Oxygenated Scaffolds

Vicinal oxygenated scaffolds are prevalent in natural products and pharmaceuticals, yet a general method for divergent access to vicinal oxygenated motifs is still a synthetic challenge. We report a visible-light photoredox esterification-peroxidation of alkenes with carboxylic acids and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Independent conversion of the peroxy and ester groups gives diverse vicinal oxygenated skeletons. This protocol establishes a unified platform for the divergent construction of vicinal oxygenated scaffolds and concise synthesis of phenylpropanoid natural products.