Zottig, V. E.; Todd, M. A.; Nichols-Nielander, A. C.; Harrison, D. P.; Sabat, M.; Myers, W. H.; Harman, D. Epoxidation, Cyclopropanation, and Electrophilic Addition Reactions at the meta Position of Phenol and meta-Cresol. Organometallics 2010, 29, 4793-4803.
Abstract
Phenols, when coordinated to tungsten, undergo conversion to their 2H tautomers. In this form, these phenols undergo a variety of reactions with electrophiles including cyclopropanation, epoxidation, and electrophilic addition to the meta carbon, eventually leading to highly functionalized cyclohexenones.
