Figure 1: The vicinal dichloride motif in natural products. Figure 3: Proposed catalytic cycle for the selenium-catalysed syn-dichlorination of alkenes. Kharasch, M. S. & Brown, H. C. Chlorinations ...
Previously conspicuous by its absence, a syn-selective dichlorination reaction of alkenes has now been reported, bringing together decades-old stoichiometric chemistry in a useful catalytic process.