TiO2 Photocatalysis in Aromatic "Redox Tag"-Guided Intermolecular Formal [2 + 2] Cycloadditions

Ag3PO4 enables the generation of long-lived radical cations for visible light-driven [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] pericyclic reactions

Photocatalytic redox reactions are important for synthesizing fine chemicals from olefins, but the limited lifetime of radical cation intermediates severely restricts semiconductor photocatalysis efficiency. Here, we report that Ag3PO4 can efficiently catalyze intramolecular and intermolecular [2 + 2] and Diels-Alder cycloadditions under visible-light irradiation. The approach is additive-free, catalyst-recyclable. Mechanistic studies indicate that visible-light irradiation on Ag3PO4 generates holes with high oxidation power, which oxidize aromatic alkene adsorbates into radical cations. In photoreduced Ag3PO4, the conduction band electron (eCB-) has low reduction power due to the delocalization among the Ag+-lattices, while the particle surfaces have a strong electrostatic interaction with the radical cations, which considerably stabilize the radical cations against recombination with eCB-. The radical cation on the particle's surfaces has a lifetime of more than 2 ms, 75 times longer than homogeneous systems. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of inorganic semiconductors for challenging radical cation-mediated synthesis driven by sunlight.

Arene C-H Amination with N-Heteroarenes by Catalytic DDQ Photocatalysis

Arene C-H aminations using catalytic amounts of a 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) photocatalyst are described. Benzene, which has an oxidation potential of 2.48 V (vs SCE), was functionalized by pyrazoles, triazoles, tetrazoles, purines, and tert-butoxycarbonyl amine. Arenes underwent amination via a combination of ultraviolet (UV) light and a DDQ photocatalyst without a typical co-oxidant. Although the mechanism remains an open question, DDQH₂, which is generated from DDQ after oxidation, is reactivated to DDQ under UV light irradiation conditions, possibly with the assistance of adventitious O₂ and/or a solvent as the terminal oxidant(s) in this system.

Radical cation Diels–Alder reactions of arylidene cycloalkanes

TiO2 photoelectrochemical and electrochemical radical cation Diels–Alder reactions of arylidene cycloalkanes are described, leading to the construction of spiro ring systems. Although the mechanism remains an open question, arylidene cyclobutanes are found to be much more effective in the reaction than other cycloalkanes. Since the reaction is completed with a substoichiometric amount of electricity, a radical cation chain pathway is likely to be involved.

Electro-/photocatalytic alkene-derived radical cation chemistry: recent advances in synthetic applications

Alkene-derived radical cations are versatile reactive intermediates and have been widely applied in the construction of complex functionalized molecules and cyclic systems for chemical synthesis. Therefore, the synthetic application of these alkene-derived radical cations represents a powerful and green tool that can be used to achieve the functionalization of alkenes partially because the necessity of stoichiometric external chemical oxidants and/or hazardous reaction conditions is eliminated. This review summarizes the recent advances in the synthetic applications of the electro-/photochemical alkene-derived radical cations, emphasizing the key single-electron oxidation steps of the alkenes, the scope and limitations of the substrates, and the related reaction mechanisms. Using electrocatalysis and/or photocatalysis, single electron transfer (SET) oxidation of the CC bonds in the alkenes occurs, generating the alkene-derived radical cations, which sequentially enables the functionalization of translocated radical cations to occur in two ways: the first involves direct reaction with a nucleophile/radical or two molecules of nucleophiles to realize hydrofunctionalization, difunctionalization and cyclization; and the second involves the transformation of the alkene-derived radical cations into carbon-centered radicals using a base followed by radical coupling or oxidative nucleophilic coupling.

Photosensitized [2 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Complex Acceptor-Donor Combinations: A Regio/Diastereoselectivity Study

The photosensitized [2 + 2]-cycloaddition of chalcones, conjugated cyclopentenones, and cyclohexenones with electron-rich alkenes such as cyclic enolethers and polymethylated alkenes was investigated. While cyclic enones showed high regio- and stereoselectivity, acyclic enones resulted in a more complex product mixture containing dimers as well as four dominant regio- and diastereoisomers. This complex product mixture can be controlled by adjusting the reaction conditions such as sensitizer, solvents, or additives.

Synthetic Semiconductor Photoelectrochemistry

In the field of synthetic organic chemistry, photochemical and electrochemical approaches are often considered to be competing technologies that induce single electron transfer (SET). Recently, their fusion, i. e., the "photoelectrochemical" approach, has become the focus of attention. In this approach, both solar and electrical energy are used in creative combinations. Historically, the term "photoelectrochemistry" has been used in more inorganic fields, where a photovoltaic effect exhibited by semiconducting materials is employed. Semiconductors have also been studied intensively as photocatalysts; however, they recently have taken a back seat to molecular photocatalysts. In this account, we would like to revisit semiconductor photocatalysts in the field of synthetic organic chemistry to demonstrate that semiconductor "photoelectrochemical" approaches are more than mere alternatives to molecular photochemical and/or electrochemical approaches.

Redox Potential Controlled Selective Oxidation of Styrenes for Regio- and Stereoselective Crossed Intermolecular [2 + 2] Cycloaddition via Organophotoredox Catalysis

A redox potential controlled intermolecular [2 + 2] cross-cycloaddition has been developed in the presence of a thioxanthylium photoredox catalyst. Electron-rich styrenes such as β-bromostyrene (E_p/2 = +1.61 V vs SCE) were selectively oxidized by a thioxanthylium photoredox catalyst (E_1/2 (C*/C^•-) = +1.76 V vs SCE) to styryl radical cations and reacted with styrene (E_p/2 = +1.97 V vs SCE) to furnish polysubstituted cyclobutanes in high yields. The present reaction can be successfully applied to intermolecular [2 + 2] cross-cycloaddition of β-halogenostyrenes, which cannot be effectively achieved by the hitherto reported representative organophotoredox catalysts.

Heterogeneous photoredox flow chemistry for the scalable organosynthesis of fine chemicals

Large-scale photochemical synthesis of high value chemicals under mild conditions is an ideal method of green chemical production. However, a scalable photocatalytic process has been barely reported due to the costly preparation, low stability of photosensitizers and critical reaction conditions required for classical photocatalysts. Here, we report the merging of flow chemistry with heterogeneous photoredox catalysis for the facile production of high value compounds in a continuous flow reactor with visible light at room temperature in air. In the flow reactor system, polymeric carbon nitrides, which are cheap, sustainable and stable heterogeneous photocatalysts, are immobilized onto glass beads and fibers, demonstrating a highly flexible construction possibility for devices of the photocatalytic materials. As an example of the production of high value chemicals, important chemical structures such as cyclobutanes, which are basic building blocks for many pharmaceutical compounds, like magnosalin, are synthesized in flow with high catalytic efficiency and stability.

Formation of Enol Ethers by Radical Decarboxylation of α-Alkoxy β-Phenylthio Acids

Enol ethers are formed by radical decarboxylation of α-alkoxy β-phenylthio acids via the corresponding Barton esters. The phenylthio acids were usually made by the known regioselective reaction of α,β-epoxy acids with PhSH in the presence of InCl₃, followed by O-alkylation of the resulting alcohol. In one case, thiol addition to an α,β-unsaturated ethoxymethyl ester was used.

Radical Cation Diels-Alder Reactions by TiO2 Photocatalysis

Radical cation Diels-Alder reactions by titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalysis in lithium perchlorate/nitromethane solution are described. TiO₂ photocatalysis promotes reactions between electron-rich dienes and dienophiles, which would otherwise be difficult to accomplish due to electronic mismatching. The reactions are triggered by hole oxidation of the dienophile and are completed by the excited electron reduction of the radical cation intermediate at the dispersed surface in the absence of any sacrificial substrate.

Application of metal oxide semiconductors in light-driven organic transformations

Herein, we provide an up-to-date overview of metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) as versatile and inexpensive photocatalysts to enable light-driven organic transformations.

Recent advances in modified TiO2 for photo-induced organic synthesis

The recent advancements of modified TiO₂ materials as photocatalysts for organic synthesis are summarized.