Anti-Markovnikov Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes: Use of a Benzyl Group as a Traceless Redox-Active Hydrogen Donor.

A protocol for the anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of alkenes has been developed by the use of a benzyl group as a traceless redox-active hydrogen donor. Under copper catalysis and in the presence of CF3 - or N3 -containing hypervalent iodine reagents, a series of homoallylic alcohol derivatives were hydrofunctionalized regioselectivity. A similar principle was also applied to the hydrofunctionalization of alkenols.

Phenols as probes of chemical composition of graphene oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) can be conveniently used as a starting material for the preparation of selective and sensitive electrochemical sensing systems. The amount of oxygen groups present on the material can be precisely tuned by reduction methodologies which allow the selection of the optimal C/O ratio for specific analytes. An electrochemical reduction procedure is used in this work to alter the oxygen content of the GO starting material and investigate the effects on the electrochemical detection of phenolic compounds selected with different hydroxyl groups: phenol, catechol, hydroquinone and phloroglucinol. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to measure the alteration of the oxidation signal upon tuning the oxygen content of the graphene based electrode material.