Tuning Flavin-Based Photocatalytic Systems for Application in the Mild Chemoselective Aerobic Oxidation of Benzylic Substrates

Unlocking flavin photoacid catalysis through electrophotochemistry

Molecular flavins are one of the most versatile photocatalysts. They can coordinate single and multiple electron transfer processes, gift hydrogen atoms, form reversible covalent linkages that support group transfer mechanisms, and impart photonic energy to ground state molecules, priming them for downstream reactions. But one mechanism that has not featured extensively is the ability of flavins to act as photoacids. Herein, we disclose our proof-of-concept studies showing that electrophotochemistry can transform fully oxidized flavin quinones to super-oxidized flavinium photoacids that successfully guide proton-transfer and deliver acid-catalyzed products. We also show that these species can adopt a second mechanism wherein they react with water to release hydroxyl radicals that facilitate hydrogen-atom abstraction and sp3C-H functionalization protocols. Together, this unprecedented bimodal reactivity enables electro-generated flavinium salts to affect synthetic chemistries previously unknown to flavins, greatly expanding their versatility as catalysts.

Exploring the Reactivity of Flavins with Nucleophiles Using a Theoretical and Experimental Approach

Covalent adducts of flavin cofactors with nucleophiles play an important role in non-canonical function of flavoenzymes as well as in flavin-based catalysis. Herein, the interaction of flavin derivatives including substituted flavins (isoalloxazines), 1,10-ethylene-bridged flavinium salts, and non-substituted alloxazine and deazaflavin with selected nucleophiles was investigated using an experimental and computational approach. Triphenylphosphine or trimethylphosphine, 1-nitroethan-1-ide, and methoxide were selected as representatives of neutral soft, anionic soft, and hard nucleophiles, respectively. The interactions were investigated using UV/Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy as well as by DFT calculations. The position of nucleophilic attack estimated using the calculated Gibbs free energy values was found to correspond with the experimental data, favouring the addition of phosphine and 1-nitroethan-1-ide into position N(5) and methoxide into position C(10a) of 1,10-ethylene-bridged flavinium salts. The calculated Gibbs free energy values were found to correlate with the experimental redox potentials of the flavin derivatives tested. These findings can be utilized as valuable tools for the design of artificial flavin-based catalytic systems or investigating the mechanism of flavoenzymes.

Site-Selective Radical Aromatic C-H Functionalization of Alloxazine and Flavin through Ground-State Single Electron Transfer

Flavins and their alloxazine isomers are key chemical scaffolds for bioinspired electron transfer strategies. Their properties can be fine-tuned by functional groups, which must be introduced at an early stage of the synthesis as their aromatic ring is inert towards post-functionalization. We show that the introduction of a remote metal-binding redox site on alloxazine and flavin activates their aromatic ring towards direct C-H functionalization. Mechanistic studies are consistent with a synthetic sequence involving ground-state single electron transfer (SET) with an electrophilic source followed by radical-radical coupling. This unprecedented reactivity opens new opportunities in molecular editing of flavins by direct aromatic post-functionalization and the utility of the method is demonstrated with the site-selective C6 functionalization of alloxazine and flavin with a CF3 group, Br or Cl, that can be further elaborated into OH and aryl for chemical diversification.

Aerobic oxidative synthesis of benzimidazoles by flavin photocatalysis

Flavin photocatalysis were utilised for an aerobic oxidative reaction between arylamines and o-phenylenediamine. This metal-free reaction proceeded in methanol under visible light irradiation and consumed only atmospheric molecular oxygen, providing a novel eco-friendly method for the synthesis of benzimidazoles.

Visible-Light-Initiated Air-Oxygenation of Alkylarenes to Carbonyls Mediated by Carbon Tetrabromide in Water

Synthesizing benzyl skeleton derivatives via direct oxidation of functionalized benzylic C-H bonds has received extensive research attention. Herein, a method was developed to prepare carbonyl compounds via photoinduced aerobic oxidation of ubiquitous benzylic C-H bonds mediated by bromine radicals and tribromomethane radicals. This method employed commercially available CBr4 as a hydrogen atom transfer reagent precursor, air as an oxidant, water as a reaction solvent, and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAPC) as an additive under mild conditions. A series of substrates bearing different functional groups was converted to aromatic carbonyls in moderate to good yields. Moreover, a low environmental factor (E-factor value=0.45) showed that the proposed method is ecofriendly and environmentally sustainable.

Tetramethylalloxazines as efficient singlet oxygen photosensitizers and potential redox-sensitive agents

Tetramethylalloxazines (TMeAll) have been found to have a high quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation when used as photosensitizers. Their electronic structure and transition energies (S0 → Si, S0 → Ti, T1 → Ti) were calculated using DFT and TD-DFT methods and compared to experimental absorption spectra. Generally, TMeAll display an energy diagram similar to other derivatives belonging to the alloxazine class of compounds, namely π,π* transitions are accompanied by closely located n,π* transitions. Photophysical data such as quantum yields of fluorescence, fluorescence lifetimes, and nonradiative rate constants were also studied in methanol (MeOH), acetonitrile (ACN), and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). The transient absorption spectra were also analyzed. To assess cytotoxicity of new compounds, a hemolytic assay was performed using human red blood cells (RBC) in vitro. Subsequently, fluorescence lifetime imaging experiments (FLIM) were performed on RBC under physiological and oxidative stress conditions alone or in the presence of TMeAll allowing for pinpointing changes caused by those compounds on the intracellular environment of these cells.

Enhancing the photosensitizing activity of natural flavins: Tuning the heavy-atom effect in the isoalloxazine series

Structure-photosensitizing activity relationships for a series of flavin analogues were investigated with the final goal of identifying the most potent photosensitizer in these series. The main structural modifications involved the introduction of various halogen atoms in C₇- and/or C₈-positions on the isoalloxazine ring. These compounds were synthesized by reacting judiciously-functionalized anilines with alloxan. The SAR trends showed that the photosensitizing activity increased with the size of the halogen atoms, confirming the importance of the heavy-atom effect on the photosensitizer's activity. The halogens in C₈ were more active than the di-substituted halogens, which in turn were more active than the C₇-substituted equivalents. However, even if the photosensitizing activity is slightly less important for the 7- compared to the 8-substituted derivatives, the 7-haloisoalloxazines are promising photosensitizers, as they present a better cellular toxicity profile than the 8-substituted analoges. The photosensitizing activity perfectly correlated with the determined fluorescence for the same compounds. Except for the dihalogeno derivatives, all the compounds were not toxic up to a 50 μM range.

Tuning Deazaflavins Towards Highly Potent Reducing Photocatalysts Guided by Mechanistic Understanding - Enhancement of the Key Step by the Internal Heavy Atom Effect

Deazaflavins are well suited for reductive chemistry acting via a consecutive photo-induced electron transfer, in which their triplet state and semiquinone - the latter is formed from the former after electron transfer from a sacrificial electron donor - are key intermediates. Guided by mechanistic investigations aiming to increase intersystem crossing by the internal heavy atom effect and optimising the concentration conditions to avoid unproductive excited singlet reactions, we synthesised 5-aryldeazaflavins with Br or Cl substituents on different structural positions via a three-component reaction. Bromination of the deazaisoalloxazine core leads to almost 100 % triplet yield but causes photo-instability and enhances unproductive side reactions. Bromine on the 5-phenyl group in ortho position does not affect the photostability, increases the triplet yield, and allows its efficient usage in the photocatalytic dehalogenation of bromo- and chloroarenes with electron-donating methoxy and alkyl groups even under aerobic conditions. Reductive powers comparable to lithium are achieved.

Photophysical properties of alloxazine derivatives with extended aromaticity - Potential redox-sensitive fluorescent probe

The spectral and photophysical properties of two four-ring alloxazine derivatives, naphtho[2,3-g]pteridine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (1a) and 1,3-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-g]pteridine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, (1b) were studied. The propensity of 1a for excited-state proton transfer reactions in the presence of acetic acid as a catalyst was also studied, showing no signature of the reaction occurring. In addition, quenching of 1a fluorescence by acetic acid was investigated. Singlet and triplet states and spectral data for 1a and 1b were calculated using density functional theory TD-DFT at B3LYP/6-31G(d) and UB3LYP levels. Finally, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) using 1a and 1b as fluorescence probes was applied to in vitro human red blood cells (RBCs) with and without tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TB) as an oxidising agent. To evaluate and compare the effects of 1a and 1b on the redox properties of RBCs, the fluorescence lifetime, amplitude and fractional intensities were calculated, and phasor plot analysis was performed. The results obtained show the appearance of a new proximal cluster in the phasor fingerprint of RBCs in the presence of 1b and a shorter fluorescence lifetime of RBCs in the presence of 1a.

Visible Light-Induced Aerobic Oxidative Dehydrogenation of C-N/C-O to C=N/C=O Bonds Using Metal-Free Photocatalysts: Recent Developments

Performing synthetic transformation using visible light as energy source, in the presence of a photocatalyst as a promoter, is currently of high interest, and oxidation reactions carried out under these conditions using oxygen as the final oxidant are particularly convenient from an environmental point of view. This review summarizes the recent developments achieved in the oxidative dehydrogenation of C-N and C-O bonds, leading to C=N and C=O bonds, respectively, using air or pure oxygen as oxidant and metal-free homogeneous or recyclable heterogeneous photocatalysts under visible light irradiation.

Light-mediated aerobic oxidation of C(sp3)–H bonds by a Ce(iv) hexachloride complex

A photochemical C(sp3)–H oxygenation of arene and alkane substrates (including methane) catalyzed by [NEt4]2[CeIVCl6] under mild conditions (1 atm, 25 °C) is described.

A flavin-inspired covalent organic framework for photocatalytic alcohol oxidation

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer a number of key properties that predestine them to be used as heterogeneous photocatalysts, including intrinsic porosity, long-range order, and light absorption. Since COFs can be constructed from a practically unlimited library of organic building blocks, these properties can be precisely tuned by choosing suitable linkers. Herein, we report the construction and use of a novel COF (FEAx-COF) photocatalyst, inspired by natural flavin cofactors. We show that the functionality of the alloxazine chromophore incorporated into the COF backbone is retained and study the effects of this heterogenization approach by comparison with similar molecular photocatalysts. We find that the integration of alloxazine chromophores into the framework significantly extends the absorption spectrum into the visible range, allowing for photocatalytic oxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes even with low-energy visible light. In addition, the activity of the heterogeneous COF photocatalyst is less dependent on the chosen solvent, making it more versatile compared to molecular alloxazines. Finally, the use of oxygen as the terminal oxidant renders FEAx-COF a promising and “green” heterogeneous photocatalyst.

In this manuscript, we report the development of a novel alloxazine COF inspired by naturally occurring flavin cofactors for photoredox catalysis.

Amide Bond Formation via Aerobic Photooxidative Coupling of Aldehydes with Amines Catalyzed by a Riboflavin Derivative

We report an effective, operationally simple, and environmentally friendly system for the synthesis of tertiary amides by the oxidative coupling of aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes with amines mediated by riboflavin tetraacetate (RFTA), an inexpensive organic photocatalyst, and visible light using oxygen as the sole oxidant. The method is based on the oxidative power of an excited flavin catalyst and the relatively low oxidation potential of the hemiaminal formed by amine to aldehyde addition.

Molecular Editing of Flavins for Catalysis

The diverse activity of flavoenzymes in organic transformations has fascinated researchers for a long time. However, when applied outside an enzyme environment, the isolated flavin cofactor only shows largely reduced activity. This highlights the importance of embedding the reactive isoalloxazine core of flavins in defined surroundings. The latter include crucial non-covalent interactions with amino acid side chains or backbone as well as controlled access to reactants such as molecular oxygen. Nevertheless, molecular flavins are increasingly applied in the organic laboratory as valuable organocatalysts. Chemical modification of the parent isoalloxazine structure is of particular interest in this context in order to achieve reactivity and selectivity in transformations, which are so far only known with flavoenzymes or even unprecedented. This review aims to give a systematic overview of the reported designed flavin catalysts and highlights the impact of each structural alteration. It is intended to serve as a source of information when comparing the performance of known catalysts, but also when designing new flavins. Over the last few decades, molecular flavin catalysis has emerged from proof-of-concept reactions to increasingly sophisticated transformations. This stimulates anticipating new flavin catalyst designs for solving contemporary challenges in organic synthesis.

1 Introduction

2 N1-Modification

3 N3-Modification

4 N5-Modification

5 C6–C9-Modification

6 N10-Modification

7 Conclusion

Recent advances in visible light-activated radical coupling reactions triggered by (i) ruthenium, (ii) iridium and (iii) organic photoredox agents

Photoredox chemistry with organic or transition metal agents has been reviewed in earlier years, but such is the pace of progress that we will overlap very little with earlier comprehensive reviews. This review first presents an overview of the area of research and then examines recent examples of C-C, C-N, C-O and C-S bond formations via radical intermediates with transition metal and organic radical promoters. Recent successes with Birch reductions are also included. The transition metal chemistry will be restricted to photocatalysts based on the most widely used metals, Ru and Ir, but includes coupling chemistries that take advantage of low-valent nickel, or occasionally copper, complexes to process the radicals that are formed. Our focus is on developments in the past 10 years (2011-2021). This period has also seen great advances in the chemistry of organic photoredox reagents and the review covers this area. The review is intended to present highlights and is not comprehensive.

Green Aerobic Oxidation of Thiols to Disulfides by Flavin–Iodine Coupled Organocatalysis

Coupled catalysis using a riboflavin-derived organocatalyst and molecular iodine successfully promoted the aerobic oxidation of thiols to disulfides under metal-free mild conditions. The activation of molecular oxygen occurred smoothly at room temperature through the transfer of electrons from the iodine catalyst to the biomimetic flavin catalyst, forming the basis for a green oxidative synthesis of disulfides from thiols.

Synthesis of Xanthones, Thioxanthones and Acridones by a Metal-Free Photocatalytic Oxidation Using Visible Light and Molecular Oxygen

9H-Xanthenes, 9H-thioxanthenes and 9,10-dihydroacridines can be easily oxidized to the corresponding xanthones, thioxanthones and acridones, respectively, by a simple photo-oxidation procedure carried out using molecular oxygen as oxidant under the irradiation of visible blue light and in the presence of riboflavin tetraacetate as a metal-free photocatalyst. The obtained yields are high or quantitative.