Ammonium Salt-Catalyzed Highly Practical <i>Ortho</i>-Selective Monohalogenation and Phenylselenation of Phenols: Scope and Applications

An ortho-selective ammonium chloride salt-catalyzed direct C–H monohalogenation of phenols and 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) with 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DCDMH) as the chlorinating agent has been developed. The catalyst loading was low (down to 0.01 mol %) and the reaction conditions were very mild. A wide range of substrates including BINOLs were compatible with this catalytic protocol. Chlorinated BINOLs are useful synthons for the synthesis of a wide range of unsymmetrical 3-aryl BINOLs that are not easily accessible. In addition, the same catalytic system can facilitate the ortho-selective selenylation of phenols.