Lipophilic Indole-Catalyzed Intermolecular Bromoesterification of Olefins in Nonpolar Media.

An environmentally benign and highly versatile catalytic protocol has been successfully applied in the intermolecular bromoesterification between various olefins and carboxylic acids. The use of a highly lipophilic indole catalyst and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH) as the bromine source allows the reaction to proceed in heptane via a solid-liquid phase transfer mechanism, affording the corresponding bromoester products in good-to-excellent yields.