Organocatalyzed Birch Reduction Driven by Visible Light

Scalable and Selective Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Polycyclic Arenes

The reduction of aromatic compounds constitutes a fundamental and ongoing area of investigation. The selective reduction of polycyclic aromatic compounds to give either fully or partially reduced products remains a challenge, especially in applications to complex molecules at scale. Herein, we present a selective electrochemical hydrogenation of polycyclic arenes conducted under mild conditions. A noteworthy achievement of this approach is the ability to finely control both the complete and partial reduction of specific aromatic rings within polycyclic arenes by judiciously varying the reaction solvents. Mechanistic investigations elucidate the pivotal role played by in situ proton generation and interface regulation in governing reaction selectivity. The reductive electrochemical conditions show a very high level of functional-group tolerance. Furthermore, this methodology represents an easily scalable reduction (demonstrated by the reduction of 1 kg scale starting material) using electrochemical flow chemistry to give key intermediates for the synthesis of specific drugs.

Photoinduced Single Electron Reduction of the 4-O-5 Linkage in Lignin Models for C-P Coupling Catalyzed by Bifunctional N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Catalytic activation of Caryl-O bonds is considered as a powerful strategy for the production of aromatics from lignin. However, due to the high reduction potentials of diaryl ether 4-O-5 linkage models, their single electron reduction remains a daunting challenge. This study presents the blue light-induced bifunctional N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed one-electron reduction of diaryl ether 4-O-5 linkage models for the synthesis of trivalent phosphines. The H-bond between the newly devised bifunctional NHC and diaryl ethers is responsible for the success of the single electron transfer. Furthermore, this approach demonstrates selective one-electron reduction of unsymmetric diaryl ethers, oligomeric phenylene oxide, and lignin model.

Advancing Organic Photoredox Catalysis: Mechanistic Insight through Time-Resolved Spectroscopy

The rapid development of light-activated organic photoredox catalysts has led to the proliferation of powerful synthetic chemical strategies with industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Despite the advancement in synthetic approaches, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms governing these reactions has lagged. Time-resolved optical spectroscopy provides a method to track organic photoredox catalysis processes and reveal the energy pathways that drive reaction mechanisms. These measurements are sensitive to key processes in organic photoredox catalysis such as charge or energy transfer, lifetimes of singlet or triplet states, and solvation dynamics. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrafast spectroscopic measurements can provide a new perspective on the mechanisms of these reactions, including electron-transfer events, the role of solvent, and the short lifetimes of radical intermediates.

Catalytic Asymmetric Redox-Neutral [3+2] Photocycloadditions of Cyclopropyl Ketones with Vinylazaarenes Enabled by Consecutive Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Consecutive photoinduced electron transfer (ConPET) is a powerful and atom-economical protocol to overcome the limitations of the intrinsic redox potential of visible light-absorbing photosensitizers, thereby considerably improving the substrate and reaction types. Likely because such an exothermic single-electron transfer (SET) process usually does not require the aid of chiral catalysts, resulting in an inevitable racemic background reaction, notably, no enantioselective manifolds have been reported. Herein, we report on the viability of cooperative ConPET and chiral hydrogen-bonding catalysis for the [3+2] photocycloaddition of cyclopropyl ketones with vinylazaarenes. In addition to enabling the first use of olefins that preferentially interact with chiral catalysts, this catalysis platform paves the way for the efficient synthesis of pharmaceutically and synthetically important cyclopentyl ketones functionalized by azaarenes with high yields, ees and dr. The robust capacity of the method can be further highlighted by the low loading of the chiral catalyst (1.0 mol %), the good compatibility of both 2-azaarene and 3-pyridine-based olefins, and the successful concurrent construction of three stereocenters on cyclopentane rings involving an elusive but important all-carbon quaternary.

Multiphoton-Driven Photocatalytic Defluorination of Persistent Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polymers by Visible Light

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and fluorinated polymers (FPs) have been extensively utilized in various industries, whereas their extremely high stability poses environmental persistence and difficulty in waste treatment. Current decomposition approaches of PFASs and FPs typically require harsh conditions such as heating over 400 °C. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop a new technique capable of decomposing them under mild conditions. Here, we demonstrated that perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), known as a "persistent chemical," and Nafion, a widely utilized sulfonated FP for ion-exchange membranes, can be efficiently decomposed into fluorine ions under ambient conditions via the irradiation of visible LED light onto semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs). PFOS was completely defluorinated within 8-h irradiation of 405-nm LED light, and the turnover number of the C-F bond dissociation per NC was 17200. Furthermore, 81 % defluorination of Nafion was achieved for 24-h light irradiation, demonstrating the efficient photocatalytic properties under visible light. We revealed that this decomposition is driven by cooperative mechanisms involving light-induced ligand displacements and Auger-induced electron injections via hydrated electrons and higher excited states. This study not only demonstrates the feasibility of efficiently breaking down various PFASs and FPs under mild conditions but also paves the way for advancing toward a sustainable fluorine-recycling society.

Photochemical dearomative skeletal modifications of heteroaromatics

Dearomatization has emerged as a powerful tool for rapid construction of 3D molecular architectures from simple, abundant, and planar (hetero)arenes. The field has evolved beyond simple dearomatization driven by new synthetic technology development. With the renaissance of photocatalysis and expansion of the activation mode, the last few years have witnessed impressive developments in innovative photochemical dearomatization methodologies, enabling skeletal modifications of dearomatized structures. They offer truly efficient and useful tools for facile construction of highly complex structures, which are viable for natural product synthesis and drug discovery. In this review, we aim to provide a mechanistically insightful overview on these innovations based on the degree of skeletal alteration, categorized into dearomative functionalization and skeletal editing, and to highlight their synthetic utilities.

Picosecond reactions of excited radical ion super-reductants

Classical photochemistry requires nanosecond excited-state lifetimes for diffusion-controlled reactions. Excited radicals with picosecond lifetimes have been implied by numerous photoredox studies, and controversy has arisen as to whether they can actually be catalytically active. We provide direct evidence for the elusive pre-association between radical ions and substrate molecules, enabling photoinduced electron transfer beyond the diffusion limit. A strategy based on two distinct light absorbers, mimicking the natural photosystems I and II, is used to generate excited radicals, unleashing extreme reduction power and activating C(sp2)-Cl and C(sp2)-F bonds. Our findings provide a long-sought mechanistic understanding for many previous synthetically-oriented works and permit more rational future photoredox reaction development. The newly developed excitation strategy pushes the current limits of reactions based on multi-photon excitation and very short-lived but highly redox active species.

Recent Advances in Dearomative Partial Reduction of Benzenoid Arenes

Dearomative partial reduction is an extraordinary approach for transforming benzenoid arenes and has been well-known for many decades, as exemplified by the dehydrogenation of Birch reduction and the hydroarylation of Crich addition. Despite its remarkable importance in synthesis, this field has experienced slow progress over the last half-century. However, a revival has been observed with the recent introduction of electrochemical and photochemical methods. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent advancements in dearomative partial reduction of benzenoid arenes, including dihydrogenation, hydroalkylation, arylation, alkenylation, amination, borylation and others. Further, the intriguing utilization of dearomative partial reduction in the synthesis of natural products is also emphasized. It is anticipated that this Minireview will stimulate further progress in arene dearomative transformations.

Mechanochemical Birch Reduction with Low Reactive Alkaline Earth Metals

Birch reduction and similar dissolved metal-type transformations hold significant importance in the organic synthesis toolbox. Historically, the field has been dominated by alkali metal reductants. In this study, we report that largely neglected, low-reactive alkaline earth metals can become powerful and affordable reductants when used in a ball mill under essentially solvent-free conditions, in the presence of ethylenediamine and THF as liquid additives. Calcium can reduce both electron-deficient and electron-rich arenes, with yields of products similar to those obtained with lithium metal. Magnesium reveals enhanced reducing power, enabling the reduction of benzoic acids while keeping electron-rich aromatic moieties intact and allows for chemoselective transformations. The developed mechanochemical approach uses readily available and safer-to-handle metals, operates under air and ambient temperature conditions, and can be used for gram-scale preparations. Finally, we demonstrate that the developed conditions can be used for other dissolved metal-type reductive transformations, including reductive amination, deoxygenation, dehalogenation, alkene and alkyne reductions.

Reactivity of Superbasic Carbanions Generated via Reductive Radical-Polar Crossover in the Context of Photoredox Catalysis

Photocatalytic reactions involving a reductive radical-polar crossover (RRPCO) generate intermediates with carbanionic reactivity. Many of these proposed intermediates resemble highly reactive organometallic compounds. However, conditions of their formation are generally not tolerated by their isolated organometallic versions and often a different reactivity is observed. Our investigations on their nature and reactivity under commonly used photocatalytic conditions demonstrate that these intermediates are indeed best described as free, superbasic carbanions capable of deprotonating common polar solvents usually assumed to be inert such as acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide. Their basicity not only towards solvents but also towards electrophiles, such as aldehydes, ketones, and esters, is comparable to the reactivity of isolated carbanions in the gas-phase. Previously unsuccessful transformations thought to result from a lack of reactivity are explained by their high reactivity towards the solvent and weakly acidic protons of reaction partners. An intuitive explanation for the mode of action of photocatalytically generated carbanions is provided, which enables methods to verify reaction mechanisms proposed to involve an RRPCO step and to identify the reasons for the limitations of current methods.

Radical-Dearomative Generation of Cyclohexadienyl Pd(II) toward the 3D Transformation of Nonactivated Phenyl Rings

Traditional palladium-catalyzed dearomatization of (hetero)arenes takes place via an ionic pathway and usually requires elevated temperatures to overcome the energy barrier of the dearomative insertion step. Herein, a combination of the radical and two-electron pathways is disclosed, which enables room temperature dearomative 3D transformations of nonactivated phenyl rings with Pd(0) as the catalyst. Experimental results together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate a versatile π-allyl Pd(II) species, cyclohexadienyl Pd(II), possibly is involved in the dearomatization. This species is generated by combining the cyclohexadienyl radical and Pd(I). The cyclohexadienyl Pd(II) provides chemoselective (carboamination and trieneylation), regioselective (1,2-carboamination), and diastereoselective (carbonyl-group directed face selectivity) conversions.

Electrophotocatalytic hydrogenation of imines and reductive functionalization of aryl halides

The open-shell catalytically active species, like radical cations or radical anions, generated by one-electron transfer of precatalysts are widely used in energy-consuming redox reactions, but their excited-state lifetimes are usually short. Here, a closed-shell thioxanthone-hydrogen anion species (3), which can be photochemically converted to a potent and long-lived reductant, is generated under electrochemical conditions, enabling the electrophotocatalytic hydrogenation. Notably, TfOH can regulate the redox potential of the active species in this system. In the presence of TfOH, precatalyst (1) reduction can occur at low potential, so that competitive H2 evolution can be inhibited, thus effectively promoting the hydrogenation of imines. In the absence of TfOH, the reducing ability of the system can reach a potency even comparable to that of Na0 or Li0, thereby allowing the hydrogenation, borylation, stannylation and (hetero)arylation of aryl halides to construct C-H, C-B, C-Sn, and C-C bonds.

Direct C(sp3)-H Arylation of Unprotected Benzyl Anilines and Alkylarenes by Organocatalysis under Visible Light

Reported herein is direct C(sp3)-H arylation of unprotected benzyl anilines and alkylarenes via consecutive photoinduced electron transfer by visible light irradiation. Reductive quenching cycles and radical-radical cross-coupling were involved, and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments provide evidence for the formation of radical intermediates formed in situ. The protocol highlights transition metal free, external oxidant free, broad substrate scope, and high efficiency (>60 examples, up to 96%).

Construction of Bridged Benzazepines via Photo-Induced Dearomatization

Bridged benzazepine scaffolds, possessing unique structural and physicochemical activities, are widespread in various natural products and drugs. The construction of these skeletons often requires elaborate synthetic effort with low efficiency. Herein, we develop a simple and divergent approach for constructing various bridged benzazepines by a photocatalytic intermolecular dearomatization of naphthalene derivatives with readily available α-amino acids. The bridged motif is created via a cascade sequence involving photocatalytic 1,4-hydroaminoalkylation, alkene isomerization and cyclization. Interestingly, the diastereoselectivity can be regulated through different reaction modes in the cyclization step. Moreover, aminohydroxylation and its further bromination have also been demonstrated to access highly functionalized bridged benzazepines. Preliminary mechanistic studies have been performed to get insights into the mechanism. This method provides a divergent synthetic approach for construction of highly functionalized bridged benzazepines, which have been otherwise difficult to access.

Photo- and electro-chemical strategies for the activations of strong chemical bonds

The employment of light and/or electricity - alternatively to conventional thermal energy - unlocks new reactivity paradigms as tools for chemical substrate activations. This leads to the development of new synthetic reactions and a vast expansion of chemical spaces. This review summarizes recent developments in photo- and/or electrochemical activation strategies for the functionalization of strong bonds - particularly carbon-heteroatom (C-X) bonds - via: (1) direct photoexcitation by high energy UV light; (2) activation via photoredox catalysis under irradiation with relatively lower energy UVA or blue light; (3) electrochemical reduction; (4) combination of photocatalysis and electrochemistry. Based on the types of the targeted C-X bonds, various transformations ranging from hydrodefunctionalization to cross-coupling are covered with detailed discussions of their reaction mechanisms.

Semiconductor Quantum Dots Act as Photocatalysts for Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation: Selective Functionalization of Xanthene's 9H Position

The potential of CdSe, CdS, MoS2, and WS2 QDs as semiconductor photocatalysts for selective functionalization of the xanthene 9H position through carbon-carbon bond formation has been investigated. Our study reveals valuable insights into the energy-transfer and electron-transfer pathways involved in these reactions, as well as the radical polar crossover (RPC) and triplet-to-triplet energy transfer (TTEnT) processes. Notably, this approach offers a range of intriguing features, including visible-light-mediated processes, inexpensive catalytic systems, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, unfunctionalized starting materials, and suitability for gram-scale synthesis. This study makes a significant contribution to the newly emerging field of QD-catalyzed reactions, paving the way for future explorations.

Chemoselective Quinoline and Isoquinoline Reduction by Energy Transfer Catalysis Enabled Hydrogen Atom Transfer

(Hetero)arene reduction is one of the key avenues for synthesizing related cyclic alkenes and alkanes. While catalytic hydrogenation and Birch reduction are the two broadly utilized approaches for (hetero)arene reduction across academia and industry over the last century, both methods have encountered significant chemoselectivity challenges. We hereby introduce a highly chemoselective quinoline and isoquinoline reduction protocol operating through selective energy transfer (EnT) catalysis, which enables subsequent hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). The design of this protocol bypasses the conventional metric of reduction reaction, that is, the reductive potential, and instead relies on the triplet energies of the chemical moieties and the kinetic barriers of energy and hydrogen atom transfer events. Many reducing labile functional groups, which were incompatible with previous (hetero)arene reduction reactions, are retained in this reaction. We anticipate that this protocol will trigger the further advancement of chemoselective arene reduction and enable the current arene-rich drug space to escape from flatland.

Isolation of the elusive [Ru(bipy)3]+: a key intermediate in photoredox catalysis

Photoredox catalysis has flourished in recent years, but due to its widespread utility applications have grown faster than mechanistic understanding. In this report we help to address this deficit by isolating and characterising one of the intermediates of the iconic photocatalyst [Ru(bipy)3]2+, and testing its initial photoreactivity towards common substrates.

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.

Controlled Radical Polymerization Initiated by Solvated Electrons

Solvated electron (esol - ) is highly reducing species and apt to initiate monomers via one-electron transfer reaction. Herein, utilizing the esol - solution of Na/hexamethylphosphoramide, radical and anionic initiations are observed respectively, which heavily depend on Na concentrations. Interestingly, this initiation system, in states of lower Na concentrations, higher molar conductivities and less paired esol - , give rise to a controlled radical polymerization (CRP) to yield polymers with predictable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (the lowest Ð = 1.25). This CRP presents unique behaviors, like solvent effect, electric field effect, and unusual copolymerization phenomenon. A semi-conjugated radical carrying a negative charge is proposed to be responsible for the CRP. This system gives a distinct way to regulate CRP from current CRPs, and offers new insights into the monomer initiation by esol - .

Electron-Poor Acridones and Acridiniums as Super Photooxidants in Molecular Photoelectrochemistry by Unusual Mechanisms

Electron-deficient acridones and in situ generated acridinium salts are reported as potent, closed-shell photooxidants that undergo surprising mechanisms. When bridging acyclic triarylamine catalysts with a carbonyl group (acridones), this completely diverts their behavior away from open-shell, radical cationic, 'beyond diffusion' photocatalysis to closed-shell, neutral, diffusion-controlled photocatalysis. Brønsted acid activation of acridones dramatically increases excited state oxidation power (by +0.8 V). Upon reduction of protonated acridones, they transform to electron-deficient acridinium salts as even more potent photooxidants (*E1/2 =+2.56-3.05 V vs SCE). These oxidize even electron-deficient arenes where conventional acridinium salt photooxidants have thusfar been limited to electron-rich arenes. Surprisingly, upon photoexcitation these electron-deficient acridinium salts appear to undergo two electron reductive quenching to form acridinide anions, spectroscopically-detected as their protonated forms. This new behaviour is partly enabled by a catalyst preassembly with the arene, and contrasts to conventional SET reductive quenching of acridinium salts. Critically, this study illustrates how redox active chromophoric molecules initially considered photocatalysts can transform during the reaction to catalytically active species with completely different redox and spectroscopic properties.

Super-Reducing Behavior of Benzo[b]phenothiazine Anion Under Visible-Light Photoredox Condition

Herein we describe the anion of benzo[b]phenothiazine as a super reductant species upon excitation by visible light. In contrary to N-substituted phenothiazines or benzophenothiazines, this molecule holds extreme reducing power to promote single electron transfer-based reductive cleavage at a potential of -3.51 V vs SCE. As a proof, a plethora of aryl chloride substrates have been reductively cleaved to fabricate molecules of the class isoindolinone and oxindole. Moreover, an aryl-chloride bond has been homolytically cleaved to generate aryl radicals that have been utilized for C-C cross-coupling or C-P bond formation reactions. To prove its extreme reducing ability, some of the aryl fluoride bonds have been cleaved to generate aryl radicals. A detailed photophysical study including steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques explain the molecule's behavior upon light excitation, and that correlates with its reactivity pattern. Theoretical calculations disclose the benzophenothiazine anion to be slightly puckered at the ground state as the molecule is antiaromatic in nature. In contrast, the excited-state geometry is planar, which is also close to that of the intermediate after one electron transfer. Abating the antiaromaticity of the anionic species is partially responsible for its highly reducing behavior.

Dearomatization of (Hetero)arenes through Photodriven Interplay between Polysulfide Anions and Formate

The facile construction of C(sp3 )-rich carbo- and heterocyclic compounds is a pivotal synthetic strategy to foster contemporary drug discovery programs. The downstream dearomatization of readily accessible two-dimensional (2D) planar arenes represents a direct pathway towards accessing three-dimensional (3D) aliphatic scaffolds. Here, we demonstrate that polysulfide anions are capable of catalyzing a dearomatization process of substituted naphthalenes, indoles, and other related heteroaromatic compounds in the presence of potassium formate and methanol under visible light irradiation. The developed protocol exhibits broad functional group tolerance, operational simplicity, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, representing a practical and sustainable synthetic tool for the arene dearomatization.

Ketyl Radical Coupling Enabled by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Electrophotocatalysts

Herein, we report a new class of electrophotocatalysts, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that promote the reduction of unactivated carbonyl compounds to generate versatile ketyl radical intermediates. This catalytic platform enables previously challenging intermolecular ketyl radical coupling reactions, including those that classic reductants (e.g., SmI2/HMPA) have failed to promote. More broadly, this study outlines an approach to fundamentally expand the array of reactive radical intermediates that can be generated via electrophotocatalysis by obviating the need for rapid mesolytic cleavage following substrate reduction.

Photoredox-Catalyzed gem-Difluoromethylenation of Aliphatic Alcohols with 1,1-Difluoroalkenes to Access α,α-Difluoromethylene Ethers

A switchable synthesis of alcohols and ketones bearing a CF2-OR scaffold using visible-light promotion is described. The method of PDI catalysis is characterized by its ease of operation, broad substrate scopes, and the ability to switch between desired products without the need for transition metal catalysts. The addition or absence of a base plays a key role in controlling the synthesis of the major desired products.

Photoredox catalysis harvesting multiple photon or electrochemical energies

Photoredox catalysis (PRC) is a cutting-edge frontier for single electron-transfer (SET) reactions, enabling the generation of reactive intermediates for both oxidative and reductive processes via photon activation of a catalyst. Although this represents a significant step towards chemoselective and, more generally, sustainable chemistry, its efficacy is limited by the energy of visible light photons. Nowadays, excellent alternative conditions are available to overcome these limitations, harvesting two different but correlated concepts: the use of multi-photon processes such as consecutive photoinduced electron transfer (conPET) and the combination of photo- and electrochemistry in synthetic photoelectrochemistry (PEC). Herein, we review the most recent contributions to these fields in both oxidative and reductive activations of organic functional groups. New opportunities for organic chemists are captured, such as selective reactions employing super-oxidants and super-reductants to engage unactivated chemical feedstocks, and scalability up to gram scales in continuous flow. This review provides comparisons between the two techniques (multi-photon photoredox catalysis and PEC) to help the reader to fully understand their similarities, differences and potential applications and to therefore choose which method is the most appropriate for a given reaction, scale and purpose of a project.

Shining Fresh Light on Complex Photoredox Mechanisms through Isolation of Intermediate Radical Anions

Photoredox catalysis (PRC) has gained enormous and wide-ranging interest in recent years but has also been subject to significant mechanistic uncertainty, even controversy. To provide a method by which the missing understanding can begin to be filled in, we demonstrate herein that it is possible to isolate as authentic materials the one-electron reduction products of representative PRC catalysts (PCs). Specifically, KC₈ reduction of both 9,10-dicyanoanthracene and a naphthalene monoamide derivative in the presence of a cryptand provides convenient access to the corresponding [K(crypt)⁺][PC^·-] salts as clean materials that can be fully characterized by techniques including EPR and XRD. Because PC^·- states are key intermediates in PRC reactions, such isolation allows for highly controlled study of these anions' specific reactivity and hence their mechanistic roles. As a demonstration of this principle, we show that these salts can be used to conveniently interrogate the mechanisms of recent, high-profile "conPET" and "e-PRC" reactions, which are currently the subject of both significant interest and acute controversy. Using very simple experiments, we are able to provide striking insights into these reactions' underlying mechanisms and to observe surprising levels of hidden complexity that would otherwise have been very challenging to identify and that emphasize the care and control that are needed when interrogating and interpreting PRC mechanisms. These studies provide a foundation for the study of a far broader range of questions around conPET, e-PRC, and other PRC reaction mechanisms in the future, using the same strategy of PC^·- isolation.

A focus on sustainable method development for greener synthesis

Given the current global climate and health challenges, sustainability and cost-effectiveness are becoming unavoidable factors that must be considered in the development of new synthetic methodologies. In a recent publication, Kavthe et al. (R. D. Kavthe, K. S. Iyer, J. C. Caravez and B. H. Lipshutz, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 6399, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SC01699D) have succinctly demonstrated how employing more sustainable methodology can vastly reduce the environmental impact associated with the synthesis of the antimalarial drug candidate MMV688533. The most notable feature of this newly reported synthetic route is the application of aqueous micellar conditions to two Sonogashira coupling reactions that simultaneously improve the yield, catalyst loading and sustainability of these key steps.

Biasing Divergent Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Oxidation Pathway by Solvent-Free Mechanochemistry

Precise control in reaction selectivity is the goal in modern organic synthesis, and it has been widely studied throughout the synthetic community. In comparison, control of divergent reactivity of a given reagent under different reaction conditions is relatively less explored aspect of chemical selectivity. We herein report an unusual reaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and periodic acid H₅IO₆ (1), where the product outcome is dictated by the choice of reaction conditions. That is, reactions under solution-based condition give preferentially C-H iodination products, while reactions under solvent-free mechanochemical condition provide C-H oxidation quinone products. Control experiments further indicated that the iodination product is not a reaction intermediate toward the oxidation product and vice versa. Mechanistic studies unveiled an in situ crystalline-to-crystalline phase change in 2 during ball-milling treatment, where we assigned it as a polymeric hydrogen-bond network of 1. We believe that this polymeric crystalline phase shields the more embedded electrophilic I═O group of 1 from C-H iodination and bias a divergent C-H oxidation pathway (with I═O) in the solid state. Collectively, this work demonstrates that mechanochemistry can be employed to completely switch a reaction pathway and unmask hidden reactivity of chemical reagents.

Chalcogen-bridged coordination polymer for the photocatalytic activation of aryl halides

The ability to deliver electrons is vital for dye-based photocatalysts. Conventionally, the aromatic stacking-based charge-transfer complex increases photogenerated electron accessibility but decreases the energy of excited-state dyes. To circumvent this dilemma, here we show a strategy by tuning the stacking mode of dyes. By decorating naphthalene diimide with S-bearing branches, the S···S contact-linked naphthalene diimide string is created in coordination polymer, thereby enhancing electron mobility while simultaneously preserving competent excited-state reducing power. This benefit, along with in situ assembly between naphthalene diimide strings and exogenous reagent/reactant, improves the accessibility of short-lived excited states during consecutive photon excitation, resulting in greater efficiency in photoinduced electron-transfer activation of inert bonds in comparison to other coordination polymers with different dye-stacking modes. This heterogeneous approach is successfully applied in the photoreduction of inert aryl halides and the successive formation of C_Ar-C/S/P/B bonds with potential pharmaceutical applications.

Manipulation of an electron by photoirradiation in the electron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction

An electron has recently been shown to catalyze the cross-coupling reaction of organometallic compounds with aryl halides. In terms of green and sustainable chemistry, the electron catalysis is much more desirable than the inevitably used transition metal catalysis but a high temperature of more than 100°C is required to achieve it. Here, we disclose that visible light photoirradiation accelerates the electron-catalyzed reaction of arylzinc reagents with aryl halides with the aid of a photoredox catalysis. Photoexcitation of a photoredox catalyst and an anion radical intermediate respectively affects the supply and transfer of the electron catalyst, promoting the cross-coupling reaction to proceed at room temperature. The supply of the electron catalyst by the photoredox catalysis makes the scope of aryl halides wider.

Solvated dielectrons from optical excitation: An effective source of low-energy electrons

Low-energy electrons dissolved in liquid ammonia or aqueous media are powerful reducing agents that promote challenging reduction reactions, but can also cause radiation damage to biological tissue. Knowledge of the underlying mechanistic processes remains incomplete, in particular with respect to the details and energetics of the electron transfer steps. Here, we show how ultraviolet (UV) photoexcitation of metal-ammonia clusters could be used to generate tunable low-energy electrons in situ. Specifically, we identified UV light-induced generation of spin-paired solvated dielectrons and their subsequent relaxation by an unconventional electron-transfer-mediated decay as an efficient low-energy electron source. The process is robust and straightforward to induce, with the prospect of improving our understanding of radiation damage and fostering mechanistic studies of solvated electron reduction reactions.

Practical and General Alcohol Deoxygenation Protocol

Herein, we describe a practical protocol for the removal of alcohol functional groups through reductive cleavage of their benzoate ester analogs. This transformation requires a strong single electron transfer (SET) reductant and a means to accelerate slow fragmentation following substrate reduction. To accomplish this, we developed a photocatalytic system that generates a potent reductant from formate salts alongside Brønsted or Lewis acids that promote fragmentation of the reduced intermediate. This deoxygenation procedure is effective across structurally and electronically diverse alcohols and enables a variety of difficult net transformations. This protocol requires no precautions to exclude air or moisture and remains efficient on multigram scale. Finally, the system can be adapted to a one-pot benzoylation-deoxygenation sequence to enable direct alcohol deletion. Mechanistic studies validate that the role of acidic additives is to promote the key C(sp3 )-O bond fragmentation step.

Formation of Isolable Dearomatized [4 + 2] Cycloadducts from Benzenes, Naphthalenes, and N-Heterocycles Using 1,2-Dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-diones as Arenophiles under Visible Light Irradiation

We report that the dearomative [4 + 2] cycloaddition between 1,2-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-diones (TETRADs) and benzenes, naphthalenes, or N-heteroaromatic compounds under visible light irradiation affords the corresponding isolable cycloadducts. Several synthetic transformations including transition-metal-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions using the isolated cycloadducts at room temperature or above were demonstrated. Computational studies revealed that the retro-cycloaddition of the benzene-TETRAD adduct proceeds via an asynchronous concerted mechanism, while that of the benzene-MTAD adduct (MTAD = 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione) proceeds via a synchronous mechanism.

Visible-Light-Induced N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Single Electron Reduction of Mono-Fluoroarenes

Fluoroarenes are abundant and readily available feedstocks. However, due to the high reduction potentials of mono-fluoroarenes, their photoreduction remains a continuing challenge, motivating the development of efficient activation modes to address this issue. This report presents the blue light-induced N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed single electron reduction of mono-fluoroarenes for biaryl cross-couplings. We discovered that under blue light irradiation, NHC/tBuOK combination could construct powerful photoactive architectures to promote single electron transfer for C_aryl -F bond reduction via forming highly reducing NHC radical anion. Notably, the strategy was also successful to reduce C_aryl -O, C_aryl -N, and C_aryl -S bonds for biaryl cross-couplings.

Photocatalytic Carboxylation of C-N Bonds in Cyclic Amines with CO2 by Consecutive Visible-Light-Induced Electron Transfer

Visible-light photocatalytic carboxylation with CO₂ is highly important. However, it still remains challenging for reluctant substrates with low reduction potentials. Herein, we report a novel photocatalytic carboxylation of C-N bonds in cyclic amines with CO₂ via consecutive photo-induced electron transfer (ConPET). It is also the first photocatalytic reductive ring-opening reaction of azetidines, pyrrolidines and piperidines. This strategy is practical to transform a variety of easily available cyclic amines to valuable β-, γ-, δ- and ϵ-amino acids in moderate-to-excellent yields. Moreover, the method also features mild and transition-metal-free conditions, high selectivity, good functional-group tolerance, facile scalability and product derivations. Mechanistic studies indicate that the ConPET might be the key to generating highly reactive photocatalysts, which enable the reductive activation of cyclic amines to generate carbon radicals and carbanions as the key intermediates.

Reductive Cleavage of C-X or N-S Bonds Catalyzed by Super Organoreductant CBZ6

The reductive cleavage of C(Ar)-X bonds is the key step for the cross coupling of Ar-X with other groups. In this work, under the irradiation of 407 nm LEDs using sodium formate as reductant and thiol as hydrogen atom transfer agent, a variety of (hetero)aryl chlorides, bromides, and iodides could be reduced to corresponding (hetero)arenes. The key intermediates, aryl radicals, could be trapped by either hydrogen, phosphite, or borates. The same reduction conditions can be extended to the deprotection of sulfonamides.

Mechanism for plasmon-generated solvated electrons

Solvated electrons are powerful reducing agents capable of driving some of the most energetically expensive reduction reactions. Their generation under mild and sustainable conditions remains challenging though. Using near-ultraviolet irradiation under low-intensity one-photon conditions coupled with electrochemical and optical detection, we show that the yield of solvated electrons in water is increased more than 10 times for nanoparticle-decorated electrodes compared to smooth silver electrodes. Based on the simulations of electric fields and hot carrier distributions, we determine that hot electrons generated by plasmons are injected into water to form solvated electrons. Both yield enhancement and hot carrier production spectrally follow the plasmonic near-field. The ability to enhance solvated electron yields in a controlled manner by tailoring nanoparticle plasmons opens up a promising strategy for exploiting solvated electrons in chemical reactions.

Uncanonical Semireduction of Quinolines and Isoquinolines via Regioselective HAT-Promoted Hydrosilylation

Heterocycles are the backbone of modern medical chemistry and drug development. The derivatization of "an olefin" inside aromatic rings represents an ideal approach to access functionalized saturated heterocycles from abundant aromatic building blocks. Here, we report an operationally simple, efficient, and practical method to selectively access hydrosilylated and reduced N-heterocycles from bicyclic aromatics via a key diradical intermediate. This approach is expected to facilitate complex heterocycle functionalizations that enable access to novel medicinally relevant scaffolds.

Unravelling the Effect of Water Addition in Consecutive Photocatalysis with Naphthalene Diimide

We describe the effect of water addition in the catalyst performance for a C-H functionalization of benzene. Improved yields and selectivity were achieved in a consecutive photoredox catalysis in contrast to the reaction without water. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated this is due to a better catalyst stability and faster kinetic rather than a change in the different steps of the mechanism. The addition of water constitutes a convenient approach to improve catalyst performance, and it was also observed with other catalysts.

Formation and degradation of strongly reducing cyanoarene-based radical anions towards efficient radical anion-mediated photoredox catalysis

Cyanoarene-based photocatalysts (PCs) have attracted significant interest owing to their superior catalytic performance for radical anion mediated photoredox catalysis. However, the factors affecting the formation and degradation of cyanoarene-based PC radical anion (PC^•‒) are still insufficiently understood. Herein, we therefore investigate the formation and degradation of cyanoarene-based PC^•‒ under widely-used photoredox-mediated reaction conditions. By screening various cyanoarene-based PCs, we elucidate strategies to efficiently generate PC^•‒ with adequate excited-state reduction potentials (E_red^*) via supra-efficient generation of long-lived triplet excited states (T₁). To thoroughly investigate the behavior of PC^•‒ in actual photoredox-mediated reactions, a reductive dehalogenation is carried out as a model reaction and identified the dominant photodegradation pathways of the PC^•‒. Dehalogenation and photodegradation of PC^•‒ are coexistent depending on the rate of electron transfer (ET) to the substrate and the photodegradation strongly depends on the electronic and steric properties of the PCs. Based on the understanding of both the formation and photodegradation of PC^•‒, we demonstrate that the efficient generation of highly reducing PC^•‒ allows for the highly efficient photoredox catalyzed dehalogenation of aryl/alkyl halides at a PC loading as low as 0.001 mol% with a high oxygen tolerance. The present work provides new insights into the reactions of cyanoarene-based PC^•‒ in photoredox-mediated reactions.

Sensitizer-controlled photochemical reactivity via upconversion of red light

By combining the energy input from two red photons, chemical reactions that would normally require blue or ultraviolet irradiation become accessible. Key advantages of this biphotonic excitation strategy are that red light usually penetrates deeper into complex reaction mixtures and causes less photo-damage than direct illumination in the blue or ultraviolet. Here, we demonstrate that the primary light-absorber of a dual photocatalytic system comprised of a transition metal-based photosensitizer and an organic co-catalyst can completely alter the reaction outcome. Photochemical reductions are achieved with a copper(i) complex in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor, whereas oxidative substrate activation occurs with an osmium(ii) photosensitizer. Based on time-resolved laser spectroscopy, this changeover in photochemical reactivity is due to different underlying biphotonic mechanisms. Following triplet energy transfer from the osmium(ii) photosensitizer to 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) and subsequent triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion, the fluorescent singlet excited state of DCA triggers oxidative substrate activation, which initiates the cis to trans isomerization of an olefin, a [2 + 2] cycloaddition, an aryl ether to ester rearrangement, and a Newman-Kwart rearrangement. This oxidative substrate activation stands in contrast to the reactivity with a copper(i) photosensitizer, where photoinduced electron transfer generates the DCA radical anion, which upon further excitation triggers reductive dehalogenations and detosylations. Our study provides the proof-of-concept for controlling the outcome of a red-light driven biphotonic reaction by altering the photosensitizer, and this seems relevant in the greater context of tailoring photochemical reactivities.

Temperature- and pH-Responsive Polymeric Photocatalysts for Enhanced Control and Recovery

The emergence of heterogeneous photocatalysis has facilitated redox reactions with high efficiency, without compromising the recyclability of the photocatalyst. Recently, stimuli-responsive heterogeneous photocatalytic materials have emerged as a powerful synthetic tool, with simple and rapid recovery, as well as an enhanced dynamic control over reactions. Stimuli-responsive polymers are often inexpensive and easy to produce. They can be switched from an active "on" state to an inert "off" state in response to external stimuli, allowing the production of photocatalyst with adaptability, recyclability, and orthogonal control on different chemical reactions. Despite this versatility, the application of artificial smart material in the field of heterogeneous photocatalysis has not yet been maximized. In this Minireview, we will examine the recent developments of this emerging class of stimuli-responsive heterogeneous photocatalytic systems. We will discuss the synthesis route of appending photoactive components into different triggerable systems and, in particular, the controlled activation and recovery of the materials.

Development of Carbazole-Cored Organo-Photocatalyst for Visible Light-Driven Reductive Pinacol/Imino-Pinacol Coupling

Benzoperylenocarbazole (BPC), a unique carbazole-based organophotocatalyst, is reported herein as a potent organo-photoreductant. Lower excited state oxidation potential (-2.0 V vs SCE) and reasonable excited state lifetime (4.61 ns) render BPC an effective photosensitizer. Under irradiation of blue light employing low catalyst loading (0.5 mol %), a plethora of vicinal diols and diamines were synthesized in excellent yields through reductive coupling of carbonyls and imines, respectively. Insight about the electronic structure of BPC was obtained by DFT calculations.

Mechanistic and Synthetic Studies of Biaryl Birch Reductions

The Birch reduction of biaryls generally converts one of the two arenes into a cyclohexa-1,4-diene. Biaryls are more reactive than monocyclic arenes under the Birch conditions. Unlike the reduction of monocyclic arenes, biaryl reduction proceeds through two consecutive electron transfer steps before the protonation of the dianion intermediate. The biaryl reductions and subsequent alkylations in one pot rapidly increase the molecular complexity and thus have been used in the synthesis of natural products and drug-like molecules.

1 Introduction

2 The Physical Organic Chemistry of the Birch Reduction of Biaryls

3 Biaryls as the Mediators of Electron Transfer

4 Methods for the Dissolving-Metal Reduction of Biaryls

5 Intercepting the Biaryl Reduction Intermediates with Electrophiles

6 Synthetic Applications of the Dissolving-Metal-Mediated Reductions of Biaryls

7 Outlook

Spectroscopy and Theoretical Modeling of Tetracene Anion Resonances

The positions and widths of the optically allowed electronic states of the tetracene radical anion located above the detachment threshold energy (i.e anion resonances) are mapped out using total photodetachment yield spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled ions. The presence of these states is detected via the sharp increase in the photodetachment yield compared to that of the monotonic nonresonant direct photodetachment background. The resolution of the resulting spectrum is limited by the ∼5 cm^-1 line width of the tunable laser and thus provides a stringent benchmark for computations of the energies and autodetachment lifetimes of these resonance states. The experimental results are compared to high-level electronic structure computations and line width modeling using the orbital stabilization method. These theoretical results are found to be in near quantitative agreement with the experimental data, highlighting their capability to accurately describe the energies and lifetimes of anion resonances for relatively large molecules.