Photoinduced electron transfer-promoted decarboxylative radical reactions of aliphatic carboxylic acids by organic photoredox system

Abstract

This feature article covers our efforts to develop a new method for radical reactions of aliphatic carboxylic acids via a photoinduced electron transfer-promoted decarboxylation using an organic photoredox system. Stable, inexpensive, and neutral organic molecules, such as phenanthrene and 1,4-dicyanobenzene, are employed as the photocatalyst to generate alkyl radicals. The photoinduced decarboxylative radical reactions are proven to be useful for reduction, deuteration, addition to CC, CN, and CO double bonds, modification of peptides, cyclization, ring expansion, substitution of dicyanobenzenes, and formation of a carbanion under mild conditions.