In this contribution, we report chemoenzymatic bromodecarboxylation (Hunsdiecker-type) of α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The extraordinarily robust chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis (CiVCPO) generated hypobromite from H2O2 and bromide, which then spontaneously reacted with a broad range of unsaturated carboxylic acids and yielded the corresponding vinyl bromide products. Selectivity issues arising from the (here undesired) addition of water to the intermediate bromonium ion could be solved by reaction medium engineering. The vinyl bromides so obtained could be used as starting materials for a range of cross-coupling and pericyclic reactions.

A chemoenzymatic method for the synthesis of haloethers is presented. A combination of enzymatic hypohalite synthesis with spontaneous oxidation of alkenes and nucleophilic attack by various alcohols enabled the synthesis of a wide range of haloethers. The reaction system has been characterised and current imitations have been worked out. In the present, aqueous reaction system, hydroxyhalide formation represents the main undesired side reaction. Nevertheless, semi-preparative scale synthesis of a range of haloethers is demonstrated.