Photoredox Conditions Research Articles

Catalytic tert-alkylation of enamides via C-C bond cleavage under photoredox conditions.

Efficient C-C bond cleavage is recognized as a persistent challenge in the field of synthetic methodology. In this study, we found that tertiary alkyl radicals are smoothly formed from tertiary alkylated dienones (BHT adducts) via SET, using PDI as a photocatalyst. Resulting tert-alkyl radicals could be applied to the tert-alkylation of enamides. The driving force of this C-C bond cleavage reaction is the mesolytic cleavage of the BHT adducts. The mechanistic study revealed that PDI anion radical is the key active species during the catalytic cycle.

Allylsilane as a versatile handle in photoredox catalysis.

Organosilanes have secured a special place in the synthetic world for several decades. However, among them, allylsilanes are a choice reagent for organic chemists to develop novel organic transformations. In recent years researchers have proved that visible-light photoredox catalysis has emerged as one of the most mild, sustainable, straightforward, and efficient strategies to construct simple to complex molecules with or without enantioselectivity. This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advances and strategies employed in visible-light photoredox catalysis for allylsilane and its analogues for the development of various organic transformations. The review is divided into sections, each focused on a specific reactivity of allylsilane under light irradiation with C(sp2) center arene or alkene, C(sp2) center carbonyl, and C(sp3) center carbon functionality. In this review, we present optimization data, reaction scope, and mechanistic aspects to bring forward specific reactivity and selectivity trends of allylsilane in photoredox conditions.

Radical Acylation of Alkenes by NHC‐Organocatalysis

AbstractN‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed radical‐radical reactions have been proven to be powerful strategies for assembling ketyl‐containing compounds via single electron transfer (SET) pathway under either thermal conditions or photoredox conditions. In this context, acylation of alkenes via radical relay under NHC‐organocatalysis has also opened a new window for the difunctionalization of alkenes to construct valuable molecules in organic synthesis. In this review, the advances and progress of the acylation of alkenes via NHC‐organocatalysis were summarized according to different ways of generation of the key NHC‐bound ketyl‐type radicals. Furthermore, reaction scopes, limitations and mechanisms were discussed based on reaction types and catalytic systems. Conclusions and perspectives were also put forward at the end.

Mechanistic Insights and Synthetic Explorations of the Photoredox-Catalyzed Activation of Halophosphines.

The light-driven activation of halophosphines R2PX (R = alkyl- or aryl, X = Cl, Br) by an IrIII-based photocatalyst is described. It is shown that initially formed secondary phosphines R2PH react readily with the remaining R2PX in a parent-child reaction to form diphosphines R2P-PR2. Aryl-containing diphosphines can be further reduced to secondary phosphines RAr2PH under identical photoredox conditions. Dihalophosphines RPX2 are also activated by the photoredox protocol, giving rise to unusual 3-, 4-, and 5-membered cyclophosphines. Transient absorption studies show that the excited state of the Ir photocatalyst is reductively quenched by the DIPEA (N,N-di-iso-propylethylamine) electron donor. Electron transfer to R2PX is however unexpectedly slow and cannot compete with recombination with the oxidized donor DIPEA•+. As DIPEA is not a perfectly reversible donor, a small proportion of the total IrII population escapes recombination, providing the reductant for the observed transformations.

Organo-photoredox-Catalyzed Selective Mono- and Bis-C-H Alkylation of Electron-Rich (Hetero)Arenes.

Herein, we disclose a simple strategy for the C-H alkylation of electron-rich (hetero)arenes with alkyl bromides employing visible-light-mediated organo-photocatalytic SET processes. The generality of this method has been evidenced by the inclusion of a variety of alkyl radicals (α-alkyl-carbonyl, benzyl, cyanomethyl) as well as diverse biologically active electron-rich arenes and (hetero)arenes under mild conditions. The extent of alkylation with alkyl bromides was found to be controlled by introducing Zn(OAc)2 as a bromide scavenger, ensuring the blocking of potential bromo-arene byproduct formation under photoredox conditions. In addition, a sequential C-H alkylation strategy for selective bis-alkylation has also been developed via chronological incorporation of different alkyl radical precursors in one pot quite efficiently.

Radical Substitution of Polyfluoroarenes and Heteroarenes Promoted by Photoredox Activation of Organozinc Iodides

AbstractAromatic compounds interact with organozinc reagents under photoredox conditions, leading to the substitution products. The reaction is performed under blue light irradiation via in situ generated organozinc reagents (Barbier conditions), which are oxidized by the photocatalyst, followed by radical attack at the aromatic substrate. The method works with polyfluorinated arenes, 2‐chlorobenzoxazoles, and 2‐sulfonyl‐substituted benzothiazole.

Photoredox-catalyzed C-glycosylation of peptides with glycosyl bromides

Glycosyl radicals, produced under mild photoredox conditions, show unique utility in the preparation of C-linked glycoconjugates. We herein report the construction of C-glycosidic bonds on α,β-dehydroalanine (DHA) of peptides with easily available glycosyl bromides as glycosyl radical precursors under highly anomeric control, leading to C-glycosylation modifications of peptides. This method not only has outstanding functional group compatibility, but also is feasible in near-physiological conditions (pH ∼ 7 and temperature T ≤ 37 °C in aqueous media).

Enantioconvergent 6π Electrocyclization Enabled by Photoredox Racemization.

This study presents a novel photoredox-enabled enantioconvergent catalytic strategy used to construct chiral 2H-1,3-benzoxazines via an unprecedented oxa-6π electrocyclization utilizing racemic α-substituted glycinates as substrates. The approach leverages a cobalt-based chiral Lewis acid catalyst, which promotes the transformation under thermal or photoredox conditions. While the thermal reaction selectively converts only the (S)-configured glycinates into enantioenriched 2H-1,3-benzoxazines (up to 96:4 e.r.), the addition of 0.5 mol % of a commercially available iridium photocatalyst under visible light irradiation transforms the reaction into an enantioconvergent process. Detailed mechanistic and time course studies of optically pure α-deuterated substrates revealed the presence of an enantiospecific kinetic isotope effect, which helped to clarify the role of both the photo- and chiral Lewis acid catalyst in the reaction sequence. In this dual catalytic system, the photocatalyst promotes a dynamic interconversion between the substrate enantiomers─a process not accessible via ground-state chemistry─while the chiral Lewis acid selectively transforms only the (S)-configured substrates. Further mechanistic evidence for the proposed mechanism is provided by linear free energy relationship analysis, which suggests that the stereodetermining step involves a 6π electrocyclization under both thermal and photoredox conditions.

Visible Light Photoredox Aziridination of Chalcones

AbstractThe aziridination of chalcones with iminoiodinanes under photoredox conditions has been reported. The reaction proceeds through nitrene radical anion intermediate generated from iminoiodinanes. The trapping of nitrene radical anions by chalcones afforded trans‐aziridine products exclusively. The scope of the reaction in terms of both the substrates is considerably wide and in most of the cases trans‐3‐aryl‐aziridine‐2‐ketones were isolated in good yields. The reaction is challenging due to the electron‐deficient nature of the substrate, making this only the second example (after trifluoromethyl alkenes) of photocatalytic aziridination of electron‐deficient double bonds.

Bidirectional Elongation Strategy Using Ambiphilic Radical Linchpin for Modular Access to 1,4-Dicarbonyls via Sequential Photocatalysis.

Organic molecules that can be connected to multiple substrates by sequential C-C bond formations can be utilized as linchpins in multicomponent processes. While they are useful for rapidly increasing molecular complexity, most of the reported linchpin coupling methods rely on the use of organometallic species as strong carbon nucleophiles to form C-C bonds, which narrows the functional group compatibility. Here, we describe a metal-free, radical-mediated coupling approach using a formyl-stabilized phosphonium ylide as a multifunctional linchpin under visible-light photoredox conditions. The present method uses the ambiphilic character of the phosphonium ylide, which serves as both a nucleophilic and an electrophilic carbon-centered radical source. The stepwise and controllable generation of these radical intermediates allows sequential photocatalysis involving two mechanistically distinct radical additions, both of which are initiated by the same photocatalyst in one pot with high functional group tolerance. The methodology enables a bidirectional assembly of the linchpin with two electronically differentiated alkene fragments and thus offers rapid and modular access to 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds as versatile synthetic intermediates.

Zinc Chelate Complexes of N‐Acyl Hydrazones as Substrates for Addition of Alkyl and Fluorinated Radicals

AbstractZinc chelate complexes can be generated in situ from N‐acyl hydrazones by treatment with isopropyl zinc iodide. These complexes couple with alkyl and fluorinated radicals under photoredox conditions. Alkyl radicals were generated from organozinc halides using an organic photocatalyst and afford hydrazines as a result of reductive mode of addition. Fluorinated radicals were formed from perfluorinated alkyl iodides under photoredox conditions leading to fluoroalkylated hydrazones via neutral reaction pathway.

Organophotoredox-mediated Formal [3+2]-Cycloaddition of 2H-Azirines with Aryldiazonium Salts: Direct Access to Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Triazoles.

The present work documents an organophotoredox-mediated formal [3+2]-cycloaddition of 2H-azirines with aryl diazonium tetrafluoroborate salts to furnish 1,3,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles. The reaction furnishes a regioisomeric mixture of 1,2,4-triazoles in case of unsymmetrically substituted azirines. It is noteworthy that aryl radical generation from diazonium salt under visible light photoredox conditions could be successfully avoided by carefully selecting the reaction conditions.

Interplay of diruthenium catalyst in controlling enantioselective propargylic substitution reactions with visible light-generated alkyl radicals

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective free radical substitution reactions have recently attracted attention as convenient and important building tools in synthetic chemistry, although construction of stereogenic carbon centers at the propargylic position of propargylic alcohols by reactions with free radicals remains unchallenged. Here we present a strategy to control enantioselective propargylic substitution reactions with alkyl radicals under photoredox conditions by applying dual photoredox and diruthenium catalytic system, where the photoredox catalyst generates alkyl radicals from 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines, and the diruthenium core with a chiral ligand traps propargylic alcohols and alkyl radicals to guide enantioselective alkylation at the propargylic position, leading to high yields of propargylic alkylated products containing a quaternary stereogenic carbon center at the propargylic position with a high enantioselectivity. The result described in this paper provides the successful example of transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective propargylic substitution reactions with free alkyl radicals.

Difunctionalization of Dienes, Enynes and Related Compounds via Sequential Radical Addition and Cyclization Reactions.

Radical reactions are powerful in creating carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Designing one-pot radical reactions with cascade transformations to assemble the cyclic skeletons with two new functional groups is both synthetically and operationally efficient. Summarized in this paper is the recent development of reactions involving radical addition and cyclization of dienes, diynes, enynes, as well as arene-bridged and arene-terminated compounds for the preparation of difunctionalization cyclic compounds. Reactions carried out with radical initiators, transition metal-catalysis, photoredox, and electrochemical conditions are included.

Extending Photocatalyst Activity through Choice of Electron Donor.

Sacrificial additives are commonly employed in photoredox catalysis as a convenient source of electrons, but what occurs after electron transfer is often overlooked. Tertiary alkylamines initially form radical cations following electron transfer, which readily deprotonate to form strongly reducing, neutral α-amino radicals. Similarly, the oxalate radical anion (C2O4•-) rapidly decomposes to form CO2•- (E0 ≈ -2.2 V vs SCE). We show that not only are these reactive intermediates formed under photoredox conditions, but they can also impact the desired photochemistry, both positively and negatively. Photoredox systems using oxalate as an electron donor are able to engage substrates with greater energy demands, extending reactivity past the energy limits of single and multiphoton transition metal catalysts. Furthermore, oxalate offers better chemoselectivity than the commonly employed triethylamine when reducing substrates with moderate energy requirements.

Visible light mediated organocatalytic dehydrogenative aza-coupling of 1,3-diones using aryldiazonium salts.

An efficient protocol for diazenylation of 1,3-diones under photoredox conditions is presented herein. C-N bond forming Csp3 -H functionalization of cyclic and alkyl diones by unstable aryl diazenyl radicals is achieved through reaction with aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates by organocatalysts under visible light irradiation. The reaction has wide substrate scope, gives excellent yields, and is also efficient in water as a green solvent. This method provides an easy access to aryldiazenyl derivatives that are useful key starting materials for the synthesis of aza heterocycles as well as potential pharmacophores.

Syntheses of functionalized benzocoumarins by photoredox catalysis.

Direct functionalization of inert C(sp3)-H bonds is an attractive synthetic technology for the preparation of pharmaceutically significant compounds in modern synthetic organic chemistry. In this work, we report a new method for the synthesis of functionalized benzocoumarins through the strategy of activation of multiple C-H bonds on 2-aryl toluenes under visible-light-enabled photoredox conditions. This method has the advantages of high functional group compatibility, mild reaction conditions, and effectively avoiding the use of strong oxidants and precious metal catalysts. Detailed mechanistic investigations, including spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, support the reaction's mechanistic course.

Single electron transfer catalysis by diphenylthiourea under visible light photoredox conditions

Diphenylthiourea, upon deprotonation and subsequent photoexcitation, has been shown to reductively cleave an aryl bromide bond, paving the way for multiple chemical transformations.

Photoinduced Halogen-Atom Transfer by N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Ligated Boryl Radicals for C(sp3)-C(sp3) Bond Formation.

Herein, we present a comprehensive study on the use of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-ligated boryl radicals to enable C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation under visible-light irradiation via Halogen-Atom Transfer (XAT). The methodology relies on the use of an acridinium dye to generate the boron-centered radicals from the corresponding NHC-ligated boranes via single-electron transfer (SET) and deprotonation. These boryl radicals subsequently engage with alkyl halides in an XAT step, delivering the desired nucleophilic alkyl radicals. The present XAT strategy is very mild and accommodates a broad scope of alkyl halides, including medicinally relevant compounds and biologically active molecules. The key role of NHC-ligated boryl radicals in the operative reaction mechanism has been elucidated through a combination of experimental, spectroscopic, and computational studies. This methodology stands as a significant advancement in the chemistry of NHC-ligated boryl radicals, which had long been restricted to radical reductions, enabling C-C bond formation under visible-light photoredox conditions.

Photocatalytic radical cascade cyclization of N‐(o–cyanobiaryl) acrylamides: access to CF2H‐functionalized pyrido[4,3,2‐gh] phenanthridines

AbstractHere we report a simple and efficient method for the preparation of CF2H‐substituted pyrido[4,3,2‐gh]phenanthridines under photoredox conditions. The reactions are triggered by addition of a CF2H radical to a carbon–carbon double bond to form three different types of bonds via a cascade radical difluoromethylation/cyano insertion/cyclization. This difluoromethylated transformation exhibits good functional group compatibility, leading to the construction of the desired ring‐fused phenanthridine derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.