Photochemical Transformations with Iodine Azide after Release from an Ion-Exchange Resin

Taming Bromine Azide for Use in Organic Solvents─Radical Bromoazidations and Alcohol Oxidations

The formation of bromine azide from the bisazidobromate(I) anion or alternatively from Zhdankin's reagent, using a phosphonium bromide salt as a common starting point, is reported. After homolytic cleavage in the presence of alkenes or alcohols either 1,2-functionalization or alternatively the selective oxidation of secondary alcohols in the presence of primary alcohols occur. The scopes and limitations of the use of BrN₃ are covered.

Visible-Light-Induced Oxyalkylation of 1,2,4-Triazine-3,5(2H, 4H)-diones with Ethers via Oxidative Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling

An efficient and convenient method to synthesize 6-oxyalkylated 1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H, 4H)-diones has been developed via visible-light-induced cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction between 1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H, 4H)-diones and ethers with a wide range of functional group tolerance. The present transformation employs the cheap and low-toxic 2-tert-butylanthraquinone as a metal-free photocatalyst and air as a green oxidant at room temperature. Moreover, this reaction can also be driven by sunlight as a clean energy resource. The synthetic utility of this method is further demonstrated by gram-scale reaction and application in the preparation of key intermediates of bioactive molecules.

Chemical versatility of azide radical: journey from a transient species to synthetic accessibility in organic transformations

The generation of azide radical (N₃˙) occurs from its precursors primarily via a single electron transfer (SET) process or homolytic cleavage by chemical methods or advanced photoredox/electrochemical methods. This in situ generated transient open-shell species has unique characteristic features that set its reactivity. In the past, the azide radical was widely used for various studies in radiation chemistry as a 1e^- oxidant of biologically important molecules, but now it is being exploited for synthetic applications based on its addition and intermolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) abilities. Due to the significant role of nitrogen-containing molecules in synthesis, drug discovery, biological, and material sciences, the direct addition onto unsaturated bonds for the simultaneous construction of C-N bond with other (C-X) bonds are indeed worth highlighting. Moreover, the ability to generate O- or C-centered radicals by N₃˙ via electron transfer (ET) and intermolecular HAT processes is also well documented. The purpose of controlling the reactivity of this short-lived intermediate in organic transformations drives us to survey: (i) the history of azide radical and its structural properties (thermodynamic, spectroscopic, etc.), (ii) chemical reactivities and kinetics, (iii) methods to produce N₃˙ from various precursors, (iv) several significant azide radical-mediated transformations in the field of functionalization with unsaturated bonds, C-H functionalization via HAT, tandem, and multicomponent reaction with a critical analysis of underlying mechanistic approaches and outcomes, (v) concept of taming the reactivity of azide radicals for potential opportunities, in this review.

Selective Azidooxygenation of Alkenes Enabled by Photo-induced Radical Transfer Using Aryl-λ3-azidoiodane Species

The photolytic radical-induced vicinal azidooxygenation of synthetically important and diverse functionalized substrates including unactivated alkenes is reported. The photoredox-catalyst/additive-free protocol enables intermolecular oxyazidation by simultaneously incorporating two new functionalities; C-O and C-N across the C=C double bond in a selective manner. Mechanistic investigations reveal the intermediacy of the azidyl radical facilitated via the photolysis of λ³-azidoiodane species and cascade proceeding to generate an active carbon-centered radical. The late-stage transformations of azido- and oxy-moieties were amply highlighted by assembling high-value drug analogs and bioactive skeletons.

Mechanistic Investigation of the Iron-Catalyzed Azidation of Alkyl C(sp3)-H Bonds with Zhdankin's λ3-Azidoiodane

An in-depth study of the mechanism of the azidation of C(sp³)-H bonds with Zhdankin's λ³-azidoiodane reagent catalyzed by iron(II)(pybox) complexes is reported. Previously, it was shown that tertiary and benzylic C(sp³)-H bonds of a range of complex molecules underwent highly site-selective azidation by reaction with a λ³-azidoiodane reagent and an iron(II)(pybox) catalyst under mild conditions. However, the mechanism of this reaction was unclear. Here, a series of mechanistic experiments are presented that reveal critical features responsible for the high selectivity and broad scope of this reaction. These experiments demonstrate the ability of the λ³-azidoiodane reagent to undergo I-N bond homolysis under mild conditions to form λ²-iodanyl and azidyl radicals that undergo highly site-selective and rate-limiting abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the substrate. The resultant alkyl radical then combines rapidly with a resting state iron(III)-azide complex, which is generated by the reaction of the λ³-azidoiodane with the iron(II)(pybox) complex, to form the C(sp³)-N₃ bond. This mechanism is supported by the independent synthesis of well-defined iron complexes characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, and EPR spectroscopy, and by the reaction of the iron complexes with alkanes and the λ³-azidoiodane. Reaction monitoring and kinetic studies further reveal an unusual effect of the catalyst on the rate of formation of product and consumption of reactants and suggest a blueprint for the development of new processes leading to late-stage functionalization of C(sp³)-H bonds.

Photochemical Transformations with Iodine Azide after Release from an Ion-Exchange Resin

This report discloses the photochemical homolytic cleavage of iodine azide after its formation following release from polymer-bound bisazido iodate(I) anions. A series of radical reactions are reported including the 1,2-functionlization of alkenes and the unprecedented chemoselective oxidation of secondary alcohols in the presence of primary alcohols.