Visible‐Light‐Driven N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed γ‐ and ϵ‐Alkylation with Alkyl Radicals

Abstract

AbstractThe merging of photoredox catalysis and N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis for γ‐ and ϵ‐alkylation of enals with alkyl radicals was developed. The alkylation reaction of γ‐oxidized enals with alkyl halides worked well for the synthesis γ‐multisubstituted‐α,β‐unsaturated esters, including those with challenging vicinal all‐carbon quaternary centers. The synthesis of ϵ‐multisubstituted‐α,β‐γ,δ‐diunsaturated esters by an unprecedented NHC‐catalyzed ϵ‐functionalization was also established.