Disulfide catalyzed the highly regioselective conversion of epoxides to halohydrins with elemental halogens

The regioselective ring opening of styrene oxide using elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of disulfides as new catalysts was studied. The conductivity titration and UV spectroscopy were used to study the interaction of iodine with these catalysts. The results indicate that disulfide 11 is efficient in polyiodide formation, and can catalyze this reaction in excellent yield and high regioselectivity. The complex [(11-disulfide)I]+.I3- is considered to be formed initially which could be bulkier by addition of excess of iodine in the course of the reaction. These bulky nucleophiles have a fundamental role in the high regioselectivity by attacking the less sterically hindered epoxide carbon.