Radical Addition of N-Chlorophthalimide and N-Bromophthalimide to Alkenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/prac.19983400205

The addition of N-chlorophthalimide (1b) to alkenes 3 via phthalimidyl radicals introduces a chlorine atom and an imidyl moiety to vicinal C-atoms of a carbon chain. The yields depend on the substituents of the alkene 3. The regioselectivity can be explained by steric and electronic effects; differences in the behavior of the addition of N-chlorophthalimide (1b) and N-bromophthalimide (1a) can be explained by a reversible attack of the phthalimidyl radical to the double bond.