β-Haloalkoxysulfonium ions generated by the reaction of electrogenerated Br+ and I+ ions stabilized by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reacted with sodium hydroxide and sodium methoxide to give the corresponding halohydrins and epoxides, respectively, whereas the treatment with triethylamine gave α-halocarbonyl compounds.
Monobromoborane–dimethyl sulfide (BH2Br–SMe2) is a highly regio- and chemoselective reagent useful for the brominative cleavage of the epoxy moiety into bromohydrins in the presence of alkenes, alkynes, ethers, acetals, ketals, and acetonides at 0°C, besides being an excellent hydroborating reagent. Several reactive functional groups, such as chloride, ketones, esters, nitriles, nitros, and thioethers, have been accommodated during such transformations. Although the reduction of acetophenone was completely suppressed at –25°C, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde still underwent 12–13% reduction of an aldehydic group.