Heterogeneous Photoinduced Homolytic Aromatic Substitution of Electron-Rich Arenes with Perfluoroalkyl Groups in Water and Aqueous Media - A Radical-Ion Reaction

Activation of perfluoroalkyl iodides by anions: extending the scope of halogen bond activation to C(sp3)-H amidation, C(sp2)-H iodination, and perfluoroalkylation reactions

A simple, efficient, and convenient activation of perfluoroalkyl iodides by tBuONa or KOH, without expensive photo- or transition metal catalysts, allows the promotion of versatile α-sp³ C-H amidation reactions of alkyl ethers and benzylic hydrocarbons, C-H iodination of heteroaryl compounds, and perfluoroalkylations of electron-rich π bonds. Mechanistic studies show that these novel protocols are based on the halogen bond interaction between perfluoroalkyl iodides and tBuONa or KOH, which promote homolysis of perfluoroalkyl iodides under mild conditions.

Water facilitated photolysis of perfluoroalkyl iodides via halogen bonding

A strategy for the efficient water facilitated photolysis of perfluoroalkyl iodide has been established for the synthesis of various perfluoroalkylated products.

Database of Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of >300 Common Compounds for use in PhotochemCAD

The design of new molecules for photochemical studies typically requires knowledge of spectral features of pertinent chromophores beginning with the absorption spectrum (λabs ) and accompanying molar absorption coefficient (ε, m-1  cm-1 ) and often extending to the fluorescence spectrum (λem ) and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf ), where the fluorescence properties may be of direct relevance or useful as proxies to gain insight into the nature of the first excited singlet state. PhotochemCAD databases, developed over a period of 30 years, are described here. The previous databases for 150 compounds have been expanded to encompass 339 compounds for which absorption spectra (including ε values), fluorescence spectra (including Φf values) and references to the primary literature have been included where available (552 spectra altogether). The compounds exhibit spectra in the ultraviolet, visible and/or near-infrared spectral regions. The compound classes and number of members include acridines (21), aromatic hydrocarbons (41), arylmethane dyes (11), azo dyes (18), biomolecules (18), chlorins/bacteriochlorins (16), coumarins (14), cyanine dyes (19), dipyrrins (7), heterocycles (26), miscellaneous dyes (13), oligophenylenes (13), oligopyrroles (6), perylenes (5), phthalocyanines (11), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16), polyenes/polyynes (10), porphyrins (34), quinones (24) and xanthenes (15). A database of 31 solar spectra also is included.

Organic dye-photocatalyzed fluoroalkylation of heteroarene-N-oxide derivatives

A direct C_Het–H perfluoroalkylation reaction of heteroaromatic-N-oxides has been achieved. Acid-catalyzed transformation of the perfluoroalkylated-N-oxides leads to 2-(perfluoroalkyl)benzo[f][1,3]oxazepines. De-oxygenation of the perfluoroalkylated heteroaromatic-N-oxides affords a regioselective radical perfluoroalkylation protocol.

Mechanism of the Stereoselective α-Alkylation of Aldehydes Driven by the Photochemical Activity of Enamines

Herein we describe our efforts to elucidate the key mechanistic aspects of the previously reported enantioselective photochemical α-alkylation of aldehydes with electron-poor organic halides. The chemistry exploits the potential of chiral enamines, key organocatalytic intermediates in thermal asymmetric processes, to directly participate in the photoexcitation of substrates either by forming a photoactive electron donor–acceptor complex or by directly reaching an electronically excited state upon light absorption. These photochemical mechanisms generate radicals from closed-shell precursors under mild conditions. At the same time, the ground-state chiral enamines provide effective stereochemical control over the enantioselective radical-trapping process. We use a combination of conventional photophysical investigations, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and kinetic studies to gain a better understanding of the factors governing these enantioselective photochemical catalytic processes. Measurements of the quantum yield reveal that a radical chain mechanism is operative, while reaction-profile analysis and rate-order assessment indicate the trapping of the carbon-centered radical by the enamine, to form the carbon–carbon bond, as rate-determining. Our kinetic studies unveil the existence of a delicate interplay between the light-triggered initiation step and the radical chain propagation manifold, both mediated by the chiral enamines.

A new era for homolytic aromatic substitution: replacing Bu3SnH with efficient light-induced chain reactions

Herein is a pertinent review of recent photochemical homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) literature. Issues with using the reductant Bu3SnH in an oxidative process where the net loss of a hydrogen atom occurs is discussed. Nowadays more efficient light-induced chain reactions are used resulting in HAS becoming a synthetic mechanism of choice rivaling organometallic, transition-metal and electrophilic aromatic substitution protocols. The review includes aromatic substitution as part of a tandem or cascade reaction, Pschorr reaction, as well as HAS facilitated by ipso-substitution, and Smiles rearrangement. Recently visible-light photoredox catalysis, which is carried out at room temperature has become one of the most important means of aromatic substitution. The main photoredox catalysts used are polypyridine complexes of Ru(ii) and Ir(iii), although eosin Y is an alternative allowing metal-free HAS. Other radical initiator-free aromatic substitutions have used 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion and N,N-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) as the photoredox catalyst, UV-light, photoinduced electron-transfer, zwitterionic semiquinone radical anions, and Barton ester intermediates.

A general photoinduced electron transfer-directed chemoselective perfluoroalkylation of N,N-dialkylhydrazones

The first metal-free, initiator-free, and general photochemical perfluoroalkylation of a variety of N,N-dialkylhydrazones was developed at room temperature in the absence of any external photocatalyst.

Hydroperfluoroalkylation of electron-deficient olefins with perfluoroalkyl iodides promoted by zinc/viologen

The hydroperfluoroalkylation of electron-deficient olefins with perfluoroalkyl iodides promoted by a zinc/viologen system is described. Interestingly, no iodoperfluoroalkylation product was observed without the presence of a radical H-donor.

One-step formation of bifunctionnal aryl/alkyl grafted films on conducting surfaces by the reduction of diazonium salts in the presence of alkyl iodides

The formation of partial perfluoroalkyl or alkyl radicals from partial perfluoroalkyl or alkyl iodides (ICH2CH2C6F13 and IC6H13) and their reaction with surfaces takes place at low driving force (∼-0.5 V/SCE) when the electrochemical reaction is performed in acetonitrile in the presence of diazonium salts (ArN2(+)), at a potential where the latter is reduced. By comparison to the direct grafting of ICH2CH2C6F13, this corresponds to a gain of ∼2.1 V in the case of 4-nitrobenzenediazonium. Such electrochemical reaction permits the modification of gold surfaces (and also carbon, iron, and copper) with mixed aryl-alkyl groups (Ar = 3-CH3-C6H4, 4-NO2-C6H4, and 4-Br-C6H4, R = C6H13 or (CH2)2-C6F13). These strongly bonded mixed layers are characterized by IRRAS, XPS, ToF-SIMS, ellipsometry, water contact angles, and cyclic voltammetry. The relative proportions of grafted aryl and alkyl groups can be varied along with the relative concentrations of diazonium and iodide components in the grafting solution. The formation of the films is assigned to the reaction of aryl and alkyl radicals on the surface and on the first grafted layer. The former is obtained from the electrochemical reduction of the diazonium salt; the latter results from the abstraction of an iodine atom by the aryl radical. The mechanism involved in the growth of the film provides an example of complex surface radical chemistry.

Enantioselective organocatalytic alkylation of aldehydes and enals driven by the direct photoexcitation of enamines

Disclosed herein is a photo-organocatalytic enantioselective α- and γ-alkylation of aldehydes and enals, respectively, with bromomalonates. The chemistry uses a commercially available aminocatalyst and occurs under illumination by a fluorescent light bulb in the absence of any external photoredox catalyst. Mechanistic investigations reveal the previously hidden ability of transiently generated enamines to directly reach an electronically excited state upon light absorption while successively triggering the formation of reactive radical species from the organic halides. At the same time, the ground state chiral enamines provide effective stereochemical induction for the enantioselective alkylation process.

Perfluoroalkylation reactions of (hetero)arenes

Methods for the perfluoroalkylation of (hetero)arenes can be classified as thermal and photochemical, which in turn can be conducted in the presence or absence of metals.

Perfluorobutyl iodide-assisted direct cyanomethylation of azoles and phenols with acetonitrile

A perfluorobutyl iodide-assisted transition-metal-free cyanomethylation of azoles and phenols with acetonitrile in the presence of NaH has been developed. A mechanism involving the cyanomethyl radical was proposed.

Metal-free photochemical aromatic perfluoroalkylation of α-cyano arylacetates

We report here an operationally simple protocol for the direct aromatic perfluoroalkylation and trifluoromethylation of α-cyano arylacetates. This metal-free approach, which occurs at ambient temperature and under visible-light irradiation, is driven by the photochemical activity of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes, formed in situ by the interaction of transiently generated enolates and perfluoroalkyl iodides. Preliminary mechanistic studies are reported.