Visible-Light-Induced Oxazoline Formations from N-Vinyl Amides Catalyzed by an Ion-Pair Charge-Transfer Complex

Hydroalkoxylation of Enamides Catalyzed by N-Heteroarenium Iodides

A facile and novel N-heteroarenium iodide-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of enamides has been described. The protocol provides easy access to N,O-acetals, which proved to be a versatile synthetic synthon. The hydrosulfonylation, hydroamination, and hydrophosphorylation products of enamide could be indirectly provided from N,O-acetals. The reaction mechanism was further investigated, which indicated that the hydroalkoxylation of enamides was driven by weak coordination between enamide and the contact ion pair of N-heteroarenium iodide.

Reacting Molecular Oxygen with Butanone under Visible Light Irradiation: A General Aerobic Oxidation of Alkenes, Sulfides, Phosphines, and Silanes

Here, we present a novel oxidation technique by reacting molecular oxygen with butanone under visible light irradiation. This method enables the mild oxidation of various functionalized compounds, including olefins, sulfides, phosphines, and silanes. Preliminary mechanistic experiments and theoretical calculations suggest that visible light triggers molecular oxygen to produce singlet oxygen in butanone. This singlet oxygen then reacts with butanone, producing an active oxidizing species.

Oxidative cross-coupling of quinoxalinones with indoles enabled by acidochromism

An oxidative cross-coupling of quinoxalinones with indole derivatives via B(C₆F₅)₃·H₂O induced acidochromism of quinoxalinone derivatives was developed under mild and external photocatalyst-free conditions. The reaction shows excellent substrate scope, accommodating a wide range of functional groups. The usefulness of this strategy was demonstrated by the synthesis of the natural products Azacephalandole A and Cephalandole A in high yields. Moreover, the products are fluorophores showing prevalent fluorescence properties with a wide emission range and good relative quantum yields.

Lewis Acid-Relayed Singlet Oxygen Reaction with Enamines: Selective Dimerization of Enamines to Pyrrolin-4-ones

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂)-mediated oxidation represents an attractive strategy for incorporation of oxygen atoms from air under mild and environmentally benign conditions. However, the ¹O₂ reaction with enamine suffers from fragmentation, leading to very unsuccessful transformation. Here, Lewis acid is introduced to intercept [2 + 2] or "ene" reaction intermediates of the ¹O₂ reaction and enables oxidative dimerization of enamines to produce pyrrolin-4-ones in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies reveal the formation of the imino ketone intermediate from the interaction of ¹O₂ and enamine, which is able to interact with Lewis acid, relaying the ¹O₂ reaction in enamine chemistry. For the first time, selective cross-dimerization of two different enamines is achieved. Due to the advantages of mild conditions, high chemoselectivity, and up to 99% yield, a promising strategy has been developed for synthesizing aza-heterocycles under ambient conditions, which can be further applied for the synthesis of imidazolone, quinoxaline, and highly functionalized imine.

Recent Advances in Employing Catalytic Donors and Acceptors in Electron Donor-Acceptor Complex Photochemistry

Electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes provide a means to initiate radical reactions under visible light irradiation using substrates that do not absorb visible light individually. Catalytic approaches to complex formation are vital for advancing this synthetic strategy as it decouples the complexation and photogeneration of radicals from substrate functionalization, a limitation inherent to stoichiometric approaches that restricts structural diversity. This Synopsis highlights recent developments in EDA complex photochemistry in which either the donor or acceptor are employed catalytically.

Visible Light Induced Synthesis of (Z)-β-iodoenamides from N-Vinyl Amides Mediated by Ion Pair Charge Transfer State

A facile and novel approach for high chemo- and stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-β-iodoenamides from N-vinyl amides has been developed based on a visible-light-induced ion pair charge transfer state derived from...