H2O2/HCl system: Oxidation-chlorination of secondary alcohols to α,α′-dichloro ketones

The one-pot oxidation-chlorination of secondary alcohols to give α,α′-dichloro ketones in 62–80% yields is reported. The convenient and readily available H2O2/HCl system acts on secondary alcohols (C5-C17) with the formation of α,α′-dichloro ketones. The reaction proceeds with high selectivity under the reported conditions; during this process peroxide formation and the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reactions are not observed.