Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

Photochemical transformations accelerated in continuous-flow reactors: basic concepts and applications

Continuous-flow photochemistry is used increasingly by researchers in academia and industry to facilitate photochemical processes and their subsequent scale-up. However, without detailed knowledge concerning the engineering aspects of photochemistry, it can be quite challenging to develop a suitable photochemical microreactor for a given reaction. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of both technological and chemical aspects associated with photochemical processes in microreactors. Important design considerations, such as light sources, material selection, and solvent constraints are discussed. In addition, a detailed description of photon and mass-transfer phenomena in microreactors is made and fundamental principles are deduced for making a judicious choice for a suitable photomicroreactor. The advantages of microreactor technology for photochemistry are described for UV and visible-light driven photochemical processes and are compared with their batch counterparts. In addition, different scale-up strategies and limitations of continuous-flow microreactors are discussed.

Synthesis of (-)-pseudotabersonine, (-)-pseudovincadifformine, and (+)-coronaridine enabled by photoredox catalysis in flow

Natural product modification with photoredox catalysis allows for mild, chemoselective access to a wide array of related structures in complex areas of chemical space, providing the possibility for novel structural motifs as well as useful quantities of less abundant congeners. While amine additives have been used extensively as stoichiometric electron donors for photocatalysis, the controlled modification of amine substrates through single-electron oxidation is ideal for the synthesis and modification of alkaloids. Here, we report the conversion of the amine (+)-catharanthine into the natural products (-)-pseudotabersonine, (-)-pseudovincadifformine, and (+)-coronaridine utilizing visible light photoredox catalysis.

[3+2] Photooxygenation of aryl cylopropanes via visible light photocatalysis

We report that Ru(bpz)₃²⁺ is an excellent sensitizer for the photooxygenation of aryl cyclopropanes upon irradiation with visible light. The effectiveness of this photocatalyst enables the synthesis of a range of five-membered endoperoxides in excellent yield with quite low (0.5 mol%) catalyst loadings even when standard household light sources are utilized.

Cyclization-endoperoxidation cascade reactions of dienes mediated by a pyrylium photoredox catalyst

Triarylpyrylium salts were employed as single electron photooxidants to catalyze a cyclization-endoperoxidation cascade of dienes. The transformation is presumed to proceed via the intermediacy of diene cation radicals. The nature of the diene component was investigated in this context to determine the structural requirements necessary for successful reactivity. Several unique endoperoxide structures were synthesized in yields up to 79%.

Visible-light photoredox catalyzed synthesis of pyrroloisoquinolines via organocatalytic oxidation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization reaction cascade with Rose Bengal

Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline alkaloids have been prepared via a visible light photoredox catalyzed oxidation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization cascade using Rose Bengal as an organo-photocatalyst. A variety of pyrroloisoquinolines have been obtained in good yields under mild and metal-free reaction conditions.

Combining photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylation and oxidation with DMSO: facile synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated ketones from aromatic alkenes

Trifluoromethylated ketones are useful building blocks for organic compounds with a trifluoromethyl group. A new and facile synthesis of ketones with a trifluoromethyl substituent in the α-position proceeds through a one-pot photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylation-oxidation sequence of aromatic alkenes. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) serves as a key and mild oxidant under these photocatalytic conditions. Furthermore, an iridium photocatalyst, fac[Ir(ppy)3 ] (ppy=2-phenylpyridine), turned out to be crucial for the present photoredox process.

Visible-light organic photocatalysis for latent radical-initiated polymerization via 2e⁻/1H⁺ transfers: initiation with parallels to photosynthesis

We report the latent production of free radicals from energy stored in a redox potential through a 2e(-)/1H(+) transfer process, analogous to energy harvesting in photosynthesis, using visible-light organic photoredox catalysis (photocatalysis) of methylene blue chromophore with a sacrificial sterically hindered amine reductant and an onium salt oxidant. This enables light-initiated free-radical polymerization to continue over extended time intervals (hours) in the dark after brief (seconds) low-intensity illumination and beyond the spatial reach of light by diffusion of the metastable leuco-methylene blue photoproduct. The present organic photoredox catalysis system functions via a 2e(-)/1H(+) shuttle mechanism, as opposed to the 1e(-) transfer process typical of organometallic-based and conventional organic multicomponent photoinitiator formulations. This prevents immediate formation of open-shell (radical) intermediates from the amine upon light absorption and enables the "storage" of light-energy without spontaneous initiation of the polymerization. Latent energy release and radical production are then controlled by the subsequent light-independent reaction (analogous to the Calvin cycle) between leuco-methylene blue and the onium salt oxidant that is responsible for regeneration of the organic methylene blue photocatalyst. This robust approach for photocatalysis-based energy harvesting and extended release in the dark enables temporally controlled redox initiation of polymer syntheses under low-intensity short exposure conditions and permits visible-light-mediated synthesis of polymers at least 1 order of magnitude thicker than achievable with conventional photoinitiated formulations and irradiation regimes.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous photoredox-catalyzed hydroxymethylation of ketones and keto esters: catalyst screening, chemoselectivity and dilution effects

The homogeneous titanium- and dye-catalyzed as well as the heterogeneous semiconductor particle-catalyzed photohydroxymethylation of ketones by methanol were investigated in order to evaluate the most active photocatalyst system. Dialkoxytitanium dichlorides are the most efficient species for chemoselective hydroxymethylation of acetophenone as well as other aromatic and aliphatic ketones. Pinacol coupling is the dominant process for semiconductor catalysis and ketone reduction dominates the Ti(OiPr)4/methanol or isopropanol systems. Application of dilution effects on the TiO2 catalysis leads to an increase in hydroxymethylation at the expense of the pinacol coupling.

Direct C-H trifluoromethylation of di- and trisubstituted alkenes by photoredox catalysis

Background: Trifluoromethylated alkene scaffolds are known as useful structural motifs in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals as well as functional organic materials. But reported synthetic methods usually require multiple synthetic steps and/or exhibit limitation with respect to access to tri- and tetrasubstituted CF₃-alkenes. Thus development of new methodologies for facile construction of C_alkenyl–CF₃ bonds is highly demanded.

Results: The photoredox reaction of alkenes with 5-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzo[b,d]thiophenium tetrafluoroborate, Umemoto’s reagent, as a CF₃ source in the presence of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ catalyst (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine) under visible light irradiation without any additive afforded CF₃-substituted alkenes via direct C_alkenyl–H trifluoromethylation. 1,1-Di- and trisubstituted alkenes were applicable to this photocatalytic system, providing the corresponding multisubstituted CF₃-alkenes. In addition, use of an excess amount of the CF₃ source induced double C–H trifluoromethylation to afford geminal bis(trifluoromethyl)alkenes.

Conclusion: A range of multisubstituted CF₃-alkenes are easily accessible by photoredox-catalyzed direct C–H trifluoromethylation of alkenes under mild reaction conditions. In particular, trifluoromethylation of triphenylethene derivatives, from which synthetically valuable tetrasubstituted CF₃-alkenes are obtained, have never been reported so far. Remarkably, the present facile and straightforward protocol is extended to double trifluoromethylation of alkenes.

Biomimetic oxidative dimerization of anodically generated stilbene radical cations: effect of aromatic substitution on product distribution and reaction pathways

A systematic study of the electrochemical oxidation of 1,2-diarylalkenes was carried out with the focus on detailed product studies and variation of product type as a function of aromatic substitution. A reinvestigation of the electrochemical oxidation of 4,4'-dimethoxystilbene under various conditions was first carried out, and all products formed were fully characterized and quantitated. This was followed by a systematic investigation of the effect of aromatic substitution on the nature and distribution of the products. The aromatic substituents were found to fall into three main categories, viz., substrates in which the nature and position of the aromatic substituents gave rise to essentially the same products as 4,4'-dimethoxystilbene, for example, tetraaryltetrahydrofurans, dehydrotetralins, and aldehydes (p-MeO or p-NMe2 on one ring and X on the other ring, where X = o-MeO or p-alkyl, or m- or p-EWG; e.g., 4-methoxy-4'-trifluoromethylstilbene); those that gave rise to a mixture of indanyl (or tetralinyl) acetamides and dehydrotetralins (or pallidols) (both or one ring substituted by alkyl groups, e.g., 4,4'-dimethylstilbene); and those where strategic placement of donor groups, such as OMe and OH, led to the formation of ampelopsin F and pallidol-type carbon skeletons (e.g., 4,3',4'-trimethoxystilbene). Reaction pathways to rationalize the formation of the different products are presented.

On the mechanism of photocatalytic reactions with eosin Y

A combined spectroscopic, synthetic, and apparative study has allowed a more detailed mechanistic rationalization of several recently reported eosin Y-catalyzed aromatic substitutions at arenediazonium salts. The operation of rapid acid-base equilibria, direct photolysis pathways, and radical chain reactions has been discussed on the basis of pH, solvent polarity, lamp type, absorption properties, and quantum yields. Determination of the latter proved to be an especially valuable tool for the distinction between radical chain and photocatalytic reactions.

Visible-light photoredox catalysis enabled bromination of phenols and alkenes

A mild and efficient methodology for the bromination of phenols and alkenes has been developed utilizing visible light-induced photoredox catalysis. The bromine was generated in situ from the oxidation of Br⁻ by Ru(bpy)₃³⁺, both of which resulted from the oxidative quenching process.

Visible light mediated intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation of cyclopropylanilines with alkynes

Intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation of cyclopropylanilines with alkynes is realized using visible light photoredox catalysis, yielding a variety of cyclic allylic amines in fair to good yields. This method exhibits significant group tolerance particularly with heterocycles. It can also be used to prepare complex heterocycles such as fused indolines.

Hetero Bodipy-dimers as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers showing a long-lived triplet excited state for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion

Bodipy dimers in which the two different sub-units take an orthogonal orientation were prepared, which show strong absorption of visible light, long-lived triplet excited states (140.9 μs) and high singlet oxygen ((1)O2) quantum yields (64%). The dimers were used for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (quantum yield is up to 3.7%).

Visible-light-promoted radical C-H trifluoromethylation of free anilines

The trifluoromethyl-substituted anilines are biologically active compounds and useful building blocks. In this communication, we have developed the first visible-light-induced radical trifluoromethylation of free anilines with the commercially available and easily handled Togni reagent at room temperature. The resulting products were successfully transformed into a variety of valuable fluorine-containing molecules and heterocyclic compounds. This protocol provides an economical and powerful route to trifluoromethylated free anilines.