Radical Reaction by a Combination of Phosphinic Acid and a Base in Aqueous Media

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Abstract
Treatment of various organic halides with phosphinic acid (hypophosphorous acid) in aqueous ethanol in the presence of a radical initiator and a base gave the corresponding reduced products in high yields. Addition of a base is indispensable for the reduction of halides by phosphinic acid. Allylic ether of o-iodophenol or 2-haloalkanal allylic acetal underwent radical cyclization under the same conditions to afford the corresponding cyclic product in excellent yield. Deuterated phosphinic acid was found to be an efficient chain carrier for the radical deuteration of organic halides. For example, a deuterium oxide solution of deuterated phosphinic acid, potassium carbonate, 2,2′-azobis(isobutyramidine) dihydrochloride as an initiator, and p-iodobenzoic acid was heated at reflux to give p-deuteriobenzoic acid in 94% yield. A mixed dioxane/D2O solvent system combined with DBU and potassium peroxodisulfate was crucial to deuterate hydrophobic substrates in high yields and with high deuterium incorporation. Complete deuterium incorporation was accomplished only by the reaction in D2O without an organic cosolvent and an organic base.