Oxidative functional group transformations with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by a divanadium-substituted phosphotungstate

A divanadium-substituted phosphotungstate TBA4[γ-PW10O38V2(μ-OH)(μ-O)] (I, TBA = tetra-n-butylammonium) reacts with one equivalent H+ to form a bis-μ-hydroxo species [γ-PW10O38V2(μ-OH)2]3− (I′) in organic media. The strong electrophilic oxidants such as [γ-PW10O38V2(μ-OH)(μ-OOH)]3− (II) and [γ-PW10O38V2(μ-η2:η2-O2)]3− (III) are formed by the reaction of the bis-μ-hydroxo species with H2O2. In the presence of I and H+, H2O2-based oxidations such as (i) epoxidation of alkenes (17 examples including electron-deficient ones), (ii) hydroxylation of alkanes (11 examples), and (iii) oxidative bromination of alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics with Br− as a bromo source (12 examples including chlorination) chemo-, diastereo-, and regioselectively proceed to give the corresponding oxidized products in moderate to high yields with high efficiencies of H2O2 utilization.