Visible-Light-Promoted Iododifluoromethylation of Alkenes via (Phosphonio)difluoromethyl Radical Cation

Photocatalyzed Imino-Difluoromethylation of Alkenes with Bifunctional Oxime Esters

Herein, we report a simple and versatile difluoromethylene-imide reaction in which a series of olefins can undergo a difluoromethylenimine reaction under photocatalytic conditions through an energy transfer (EnT) process. The reaction has mild conditions and a wide range of applicability. We successfully synthesized 27 molecules containing difluoromethylene units, featuring easily accessible starting materials and operational simplicity.

Photoredox Annulation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The rise of interest in using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and molecular graphenoids in optoelectronics has recently stimulated the growth of modern synthetic methodologies giving access to intramolecular aryl-aryl couplings. Here, we show that a radical-based annulation protocol allows expansion of the planarization approaches to prepare functionalized molecular graphenoids. The enabler of this reaction is peri-xanthenoxanthene, the photocatalyst which undergoes photoinduced single electron transfer with an ortho-oligoarylenyl precursor bearing electron-withdrawing and nucleofuge groups. Dissociative electron transfer enables the formation of persistent aryl radical intermediates, the latter undergoing intramolecular C-C bond formation, allowing the planarization reaction to occur. The reaction conditions are mild and compatible with various electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents on the aryl rings as well as heterocycles and PAHs. The method could be applied to induce double annulation reactions, allowing the synthesis of π-extended scaffolds with different edge peripheries.

Photoreduction of Anthracenes Catalyzed by peri-Xanthenoxanthene: a Scalable and Sustainable Birch-Type Alternative

The typical Birch reduction transforms arenes into cyclohexa-1,4-dienes by using alkali metals, an alcohol as a proton source, and an amine as solvent. Capitalizing on the strong photoreductive properties of peri-xanthenoxanthene (PXX), herein we report the photocatalyzed "Birch-type" reduction of acenes by employing visible blue light irradiation at room temperature in the presence of air. Upon excitation at 405 or 460 nm in the presence of a mixture of N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) and trifluoromethanesulfonimide (HNTf2 ) in DMSO, PXX photocatalyzes the selective reduction of full-carbon acene derivatives (24-75 %). Immobilization of PXX onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) beads (PXX-PDMS) allowed the use of the catalyst in heterogeneous batch reactions, giving 9-phenyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene in high yield (68 %). The catalyst could easily be recovered and reused, with no notable drop in performance observed after five reaction cycles. Integration of the PXX-PDMS beads into a microreactor enabled the reduction of acenes under continuous-flow conditions, thereby validating the sustainability and scalability of this heterogeneous-phase approach.

Recent Advances in Visible Light-Mediated Radical Fluoro-alkylation, -alkoxylation, -alkylthiolation, -alkylselenolation, and -alkylamination

In the last few years, many reagents and protocols have been developed to allow for the efficient fluorofunctionalization of a diverse set of scaffolds ranging from alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and (hetero)arenes. The concomitant rise of organofluorine chemistry and visible light-mediated synthesis have synergistically expanded the fields and have mutually benefitted from developments in both fields. In this context, visible light driven formations of radicals containing fluorine have been a major focus for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. This review details the recent advances and progress made in visible light-mediated fluoroalkylation and heteroatom centered radical generation.

Customising excitation properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by rational positional heteroatom doping: the peri-xanthenoxanthene (PXX) case

In this paper we tackle the challenge of gaining control of the photophysical properties of PAHs through a site-specific N-doping within the structural aromatic framework. By developing a simple predictive tool that identifies C(sp²)-positions that if substituted with a heteroatom would tailor the changes in the absorption and emission spectral envelopes, we predict optimal substitutional patterns for the model peri-xanthenoxanthene (PXX) PAH. Specifically, TDDFT calculations of the electron density difference between the S₁ excited state and S₀ ground state of PXX allowed us to identify the subtleties in the role of sites i.e., electron donating or withdrawing character on excitation. The replacement of two C(sp²)-atoms with two N-atoms, in either electron donating or withdrawing positions, shifts the electronic transitions either to low or high energy, respectively. This consequently shifts the PXX absorption spectral envelop bathochromically or hypsochromically, as demonstrated by steady-state absorption spectroscopic measurements. Within the series of synthesised N-doped PXX, we tune the optical band gap within an interval of ∼0.4 eV, in full agreement with the theoretical predictions. Relatedly, measurements show the more blueshifted the absorption/emission energies, the greater the fluorescence quantum yield value (from ∼45% to ∼75%). On the other hand, electrochemical investigations suggested that the N-pattern has a limited influence on the redox properties. Lastly, depending on the N-pattern, different supramolecular organisations could be obtained at the solid-state, with the 1,7-pattern PXX molecule forming multi-layered, graphene-like, supramolecular sheets through a combination of weak H-bonding and π-π stacking interactions. Supramolecular striped patterned sheets could also be formed with the 3,9- and 4,10-congeners when co-crystallized with a halogen-bond donor molecule.

Application of Aromatic Substituted 2,2,2-Trifluoro Diazoethanes in Organic Reactions

Abstract:

This review provides an overview of metal-, nonmetal-, light-, or catalyst free-promoting reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with organic molecules for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted compounds. Several approaches will be reviewed and divided into (i) copper-, iron-, Trop(BF4)-, B(C6F5)3-, light-, or rhodium-promoted reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with silanes, amines, mercaptans, phosphonates, p-cyanophenol, benzoic acid, diphenylphosphinic acid, boranes and nBu3SnH, (ii) rhodium-catalyzed reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with amides and phenylhydroxylamine, (iii) copper-, rhodium-, silver-, and light-catalyzed reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with alkynes, (iv) palladium-, copper-, rhodium- and iron-catalyzed reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with alkenes, (v) BF3·OEt2-, copper-, tin- or TBAB-catalyzed reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with HF·Py, (difluoroiodo)toluene (p-TolIF2), TMSCF3, AgSCF3, TMSCF2Br or 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, (vi) palladium-, copper-, gold/silver- or rhodium-catalyzed reactions of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with indoles, benzene compounds or pyridines, and (vii) palladium-catalyzed reaction of aromatic substituted 2,2,2-trifluoro diazoethanes with benzyl or allyl bromides.

State of knowledge in photoredox-catalysed direct difluoromethylation

The combination of visible light photoredox catalysis with direct difluoromethylation has allowed the synthesis of a large choice of CF2H-containing value-added molecules under very mild reaction conditions.

Difluoromethyl Radical Triggered Tandem Reaction of N-Allyl Amides to Difluoromethylated β-Amino Alcohols by Photoredox Catalysis

An elegant tandem reaction process for transferring N-allyl amide into CF₂H-β-amino alcohol is described. This approach proceeded smoothly under visible light irradiation in the presence of a 3 mol % Ir complex, exhibiting a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and a variety of CF₂H-β-amino alcohols were readily accessed in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The reliable mechanistic studies revealed that sequential difluoromethyl radical addition/carbocation trap/rearrangement is involved.

Visible-Light-Induced Selective Photolysis of Phosphonium Iodide Salts for Monofluoromethylations

The sigma (σ)-hole effect has emerged as a promising tool to construct novel architectures endowed with new properties. A simple yet effective strategy for the generation of monofluoromethyl radicals is a continuing challenge within the synthetic community. Fluoromethylphosphonium salts are easily available, air- and thermally stable, as well as simple-to-handle. Herein, we report the ability of the σ-hole effect to facilitate the visible-light-triggered photolysis of phosphonium iodide salts, a charge-transfer complex, selectively giving fluoromethyl radicals. The usefulness and versatility of this new protocol are demonstrated through the mono-, di-, and trifluoromethylation of a variety of alkenes.

Metal-Catalyzed Spiroannulation-Fluoromethylfunctionaliztions of 1,5-Enynes for the Synthesis of Stereodefined (Z)-Spiroindenes

Two classes of new catalytic spiroannulation-fluormethylfunctionaliztions of para-quinone methide (p-QM)-containing 1,5-enynes have been established under redox-neutral conditions. Palladium-catalyzed spiroannulation-iododifluoromethylation with ethyl difluoroiodoacetate oriented completely stereoselective access to (Z)-spiroindenes and the latter included copper-catalyzed three-component spiroannulation-cyanotrifluoromethylation starting from Togni's reagent and trimethylsilanecarbonitrile (TMSCN). Both reaction pathways involve fluoroalkyl radical-triggered 1,6-addition/5-exo-dig annulation/metal radical cross-coupling/reductive elimination sequence, providing practical and stereoselective protocols for rapidly constructing cyclohexadienone-containing spiroindenes with generally good yields.

Metal-Free Iodoperfluoroalkylation: Photocatalysis versus Frustrated Lewis Pair Catalysis

A comparison of two catalytic, metal-free iodoperfluoro­alkylation protocols is presented. Frustrated Lewis pairs [ t Bu3P/B(C6F5)3] or phosphines/phosphites under visible light irradiation efficiently mediate the functionalization of non-activated alkenes and alkynes. A comprehensive account of the corresponding substrate scopes as well as insights into the mechanistic details of both reaction pathways are provided.

Photo-induced 1,2-carbohalofunctionalization of C–C multiple bonds via ATRA pathway

Carbohalofunctionalization of C–C multiple bonds via atom transfer radical processes constitutes an efficient method for the construction of halogenated building blocks with complete atom economy. This review summarizes the recent advancements.

Fluoroalkyl sulfides as photoredox-active coupling reagents for alkene difunctionalization

A visible-light-promoted fluoroalkylation-thiolation of alkenes is described.

Synthesis of difluoroalkylated 2-azaspiro[4.5]decane derivatives via copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation/dearomatization of N-benzylacrylamides

A copper-catalyzed synthesis of difluoroalkylated spiro-azacycles from N-benzylacrylamides is presented. The reaction involves the β-difluoroalkylation of acrylamide, 5-exo cyclization, and dearomatization.