Recent Advances in Radical Dioxygenation of Olefins

Dioxygenation of olefins is a valuable synthetic tool for the construction of 1,2-diols and alpha-oxygenated ketones. The use of radical approaches to achieve this direct 1,2-difunctionalization has recently made considerable progress. The metal-catalyzed reactions employ molecular oxygen and air as the oxidants, whereas metal-free dioxygenation utilizes oxygen and peroxides. These oxidations are effective under mild conditions, with activated olefins found to be the most successful substrates. This microreview covers the recent developments in the radical dioxygenation of olefins, with respect to substrate scope, mechanism, and the advantages and disadvantages of the methods.