Visible Light-Driven Cross Coupling Reactions Catalyzed By B12 Complex with Photosensitizer

Abstract

Organometallic B12 compounds are unique metal complexes having a cobalt-carbon σ-bond present in biological systems [1]. Cleavage of the metal-organic σ-bond initiates many B12-dependent enzymatic reactions. The alkylated cobalt complex is generally formed by the reaction of the Co(I) state of the complex with electrophiles such as an organic halide in vivo. Therefore, the reductive formation of the Co(I) species followed by formal oxidative addition of the organic halide to form the alkylated cobalt complex are key steps for the development of the B12 catalyzed enzymatic reactions. Our group has been reported the photosensitizing formation of the Co(I) species of the B12 derivative, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate, using various photosensitizers (PSs) such as, [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 or cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes and performed various B12 model reactions such as 1,2-migration of functional groups, dechlorination and so on [2,3]. Here, a visible light driven Heck-type coupling reaction of alkyl halides with styrene and its derivatives catalyzed by the cobalamin derivative (B12) with the [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 photosensitizer at room temperature is reported. The catalytic efficiencies of the B12 catalyst were compared to that of other cobalt complexes such as cobaloxime. Various control experiments supported a radical-based mechanism similar to those for typical B12 model reactions. An unique coupling reaction combined with 1,2-migration of the functional group is also reported. Mild reaction conditions using an environmentally benign cobalt catalyst derived from the natural B12 provided a practical protocol for the synthetic organic chemistry of the B12 catalyzed reaction system. [1] Reviews: a) H. Shimakoshi, Y. Hisaeda, Current Opinion in Electrochem. 2018, 8, 24; b) H. Shimakoshi, Y. Hisaeda, ChemPlusChem. 2017, 82, 17 (Back cover). [2] H. Tian, H. Shimakoshi, T. Ono, Y. Hisaeda, ChemPlusChem 2019, in press (Front cover). [3] H. Shimakoshi, Y. You, Y. Hisaeda et al, Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 675 (Front cover).