Metal‐Free, Catalytic Regioselective Oxidative Conversion of Vinylarenes: A Mild Approach to Phenylacetic Acid Derivatives.

A new synthetic approach towards the synthesis of phenylacetic acids from aromatic alkenes has been developed for the first time under mild conditions by employing non-toxic reagents such as molecular iodine and oxone. This metal-free catalytic regioselective oxygenation of vinylarenes proceeds via tandem iodofunctionalization/de-iodination induced rearrangement.