Green Organocatalytic Dihydroxylation of Alkenes

An inexpensive, green, metal-free one-pot procedure for the dihydroxylation of alkenes is described. H2O2 and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone were employed as the oxidant and organocatalyst, respectively, in this highly sustainable protocol in which a variety of homoallylic alcohols, aminoalkenes, and simple alkenes were converted into the corresponding polyalcohols in good to excellent yields. This process takes advantage of an epoxidation reaction followed by an acidic treatment in which water participates in the ring opening of the in situ prepared epoxide to lead to the desired product.