Reductive Bromine Atom-Transfer Reaction

Visible-light-driven 1,2-hydro(cyanomethylation) of alkenes with chloroacetonitrile

A regioselective 1,2-hydro(cyanomethylation) of unactivated aliphatic alkenes is reported. A cyanomethyl radical is generated from haloacetonitriles. This radical adds onto alkenes to form alkyl radicals, which undergo hydrogen atom transfer from thiol to produce one-carbon-extended nitriles. Furthermore, the alkyl radicals are applied to cascade cyclization.

Strategy Evolution in a Skeletal Remodeling and C-H Functionalization-Based Synthesis of the Longiborneol Sesquiterpenoids

Detailed herein are our synthesis studies of longiborneol and related natural products. Our overarching goals of utilizing a "camphor first" strategy enabled by skeletal remodeling of carvone, and late-stage diversification using C-H functionalizations, led to divergent syntheses of the target natural products. Our initial approach proposed a lithiate addition to unite two fragments followed by a Conia-ene or Pd-mediated cycloalkylation reaction sequence to install the seven-membered ring emblematic of the longibornane core. This approach was unsuccessful and evolved into a revised plan that employed a Wittig coupling and a radical cyclization to establish the core. A reductive radical cyclization, which was explored first, led to a synthesis of copaborneol, a structural isomer of longiborneol. Alternatively, a metal-hydride hydrogen atom transfer-initiated cyclization was effective for a synthesis of longiborneol. Late-stage C-H functionalization of the longibornane core led to a number of hydroxylated longiborneol congeners. The need for significant optimization of the strategies that were employed as well as the methods for C-H functionalization to implement these strategies highlights the ongoing challenges in applying these powerful reactions. Nevertheless, the reported approach enables functionalization of every natural product-relevant C-H bond in the longibornane skeleton.

Photocatalytic Addition Reactions of Ketene Silyl Acetals with Alkenes through Formation of α-Carbonyl Radicals

Addition reactions of ketene silyl acetals with alkenes that do not have an electron-withdrawing group are generally difficult because the nucleophilicity of ketene silyl acetals and the electrophilicity of alkenes are not sufficient. Herein, we report photocatalytic addition reactions of ketene silyl acetals with alkenes that proceed through formation of α-carbonyl radicals. In the presence of an appropriate protic additive, the reactions proceeded smoothly under blue-light irradiation to afford the desired products in moderate to high yields.

Electrochemical Activation of the C-X Bond on Demand: Access to the Atom Economic Group Transfer Reaction Triggered by Noncovalent Interaction

An atom economic method demonstrates the involvement of noncovalent interaction via hydrogen or halogen bonding interaction in triggering paired electrolysis for the group transfer reactions. Specifically, this method demonstrated the bromination of several aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds through the activation of the C(sp³)-Br bond of organic-bromo derivatives on demand. This electrochemical protocol is mild, and mostly no additional electrolyte is needed, which makes the workup process straightforward. Unlike the existing regioselective monobromination methods, this work utilizes a relatively small amount (1.2 equiv) of bromine surrogates that releases bromine on demand under the electrochemical condition and after completion of the reaction generates acetophenone as a useful byproduct. Green metrics indicate this protocol has a very good atom efficiency with an E-factor of 26.86 kg of waste/1 kg of product. In addition to the scale-up process, this strategy could be extended to the transfer of chlorine and thioaryl units. An extensive mechanistic study is accomplished to validate the hypothesis of noncovalent interaction using computational, spectroscopic, and cyclic voltammetry studies. Finally, the applicability of this newly developed nonbonding interaction to trigger paired electrolysis was extended to the chemoselective debromination of several dihalo organic compounds.

Visible-Light-Induced 1,6-Enynes Triggered C-Br Bond Homolysis of Bromomalonates: Solvent-Controlled Divergent Synthesis of Carbonylated and Hydroxylated Benzofurans

Visible-light-induced 1,6-enyne-triggered C-Br bond homolysis of bromomalonates has been developed. This transition-metal-free, photocatalyst-free, and oxidant- and additive-free protocol affords an efficient approach for divergent synthesis of carbonylated and hydroxylated benzofurans from 1,6-enynes and bromomalonates under mild conditions. Significantly, mechanistic studies reveal that the homolysis of C-Br bonds appears to experience an energy-transfer pathway, and the atom-transfer radical addition products are the key intermediates to generate carbonylated and hydroxylated benzofurans.

Iterative Synthesis of 2-Deoxyoligosaccharides Enabled by Stereoselective Visible-Light-Promoted Glycosylation

The photoinitiated intramolecular hydroetherification of alkenols has been used to form C-O bonds, but the intermolecular hydroetherification of alkenes with alcohols remains an unsolved challenge. We herein report the visible-light-promoted 2-deoxyglycosylation of alcohols with glycals. The glycosylation reaction was completed within 2 min in a high quantum yield (ϕ=28.6). This method was suitable for a wide array of substrates and displayed good reaction yields and excellent stereoselectivity. The value of this protocol was further demonstrated by the iterative synthesis of 2-deoxyglycans with α-2-deoxyglycosidic linkages up to a 20-mer in length and digoxin with β-2-deoxyglycosidic linkages. Mechanistic studies indicated that this reaction involved a glycosyl radical cation intermediate and a photoinitiated chain process.

Methodologies for the synthesis of quaternary carbon centers via hydroalkylation of unactivated olefins: twenty years of advances

Olefin double-bond functionalization has been established as an excellent strategy for the construction of elaborate molecules. In particular, the hydroalkylation of olefins represents a straightforward strategy for the synthesis of new C(sp³)–C(sp³) bonds, with concomitant formation of challenging quaternary carbon centers. In the last 20 years, numerous hydroalkylation methodologies have emerged that have explored the diverse reactivity patterns of the olefin double bond. This review presents examples of olefins acting as electrophilic partners when coordinated with electrophilic transition-metal complexes or, in more recent approaches, when used as precursors of nucleophilic radical species in metal hydride hydrogen atom transfer reactions. This unique reactivity, combined with the wide availability of olefins as starting materials and the success reported in the construction of all-carbon C(sp³) quaternary centers, makes hydroalkylation reactions an ideal platform for the synthesis of molecules with increased molecular complexity.

Bromine radical as a visible-light-mediated polarity-reversal catalyst

Polarity-reversal catalysts enable otherwise sluggish or completely ineffective reactions which are characterized by unfavorable polar effects between radicals and substrates. We herein disclose that when irradiated by visible light, bromine can behave as a polarity-reversal catalyst. Hydroacylation of vinyl arenes, a three-component cascade transformation and deuteration of aldehydes were each achieved in a metal-free manner without initiators by using inexpensive N-bromosuccinimide as the precatalyst. Light is essential to generate and maintain the active bromine radical during the reaction process. Another key to success is that HBr can behave as an effective hydrogen donor to turn over the catalytic cycles.

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Using bromine as a polarity-reversal catalyst to generate acyl radicals

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Additive- and metal-free, atom- and step-economic, and operationally simple process

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Using constant light-irradiation to induce and maintain bromine radicals

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Access carbonyl compounds and deuterated aldehydes with wide substrate scope

A Giese reaction for electron-rich alkenes

A general method for the hydroalkylation of electron-rich terminal and non-terminal alkenes such as enol esters, alkenyl sulfides, enol ethers, silyl enol ethers, enamides and enecarbamates has been developed. The reactions are carried out at room temperature under air initiation in the presence of triethylborane acting as a chain transfer reagent and 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC) as a source of hydrogen atom. The efficacy of the reaction is best explained by very favorable polar effects supporting the chain process and minimizing undesired polar reactions. The stereoselective hydroalkylation of chiral N-(alk-1-en-1-yl)oxazolidin-2-ones takes place with good to excellent diastereocontrol.

Giese reaction not anymore limited to electron poor alkenes! A general method for the radical mediated hydroalkylation of electron rich alkenes including enol ethers, silylenolethers, enamides, and enecarbamates has been developed.

Tracking down the brominated single electron oxidants in recent organic red-ox transformations: photolysis and photocatalysis

A wide range of organic and inorganic brominated compounds including molecular bromine have been extensively used as oxidants in many organic photo-redox transformations in recent years, an area of ever growing interest because of greener and milder approaches. The oxidation power of these compounds is utilized through both mechanistic pathways (by hydrogen atom transfer or HAT in the absence of a photocatalyst and a combination of single electron transfer or SET and/or HAT in the presence of a photocatalyst). Not only as terminal oxidants for regeneration of photocatalysts, but brominated reactants have also contributed to the oxidation of the reaction intermediate(s) to carry on the radical chain process in several reactions. Here in this review mainly the non-brominative oxidative product formations are discussed, carried out since the last two decades, skipping the instances where they acted as terminal oxidants only to regenerate photocatalysts. The reactions are used to generate natural products, pharmaceuticals and beyond.

Stereoselective Electro-2-deoxyglycosylation from Glycals

We report a novel and highly stereoselective electro-2-deoxyglycosylation from glycals. This method features excellent stereoselectivity, scope, and functional-group tolerance. This process can also be applied to the modification of a wide range of natural products and drugs. Furthermore, a scalable synthesis of glycosylated podophyllotoxin and a one-pot trisaccharide synthesis through iterative electroglycosylations were achieved.

Visible light-mediated atom transfer radical addition to styrene: base controlled selective (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation

A visible-light-mediated (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation of styrenes has been developed to afford both ATRA and heck-type products by simply tuning the bases.

Intermolecular Phosphite-Mediated Radical Desulfurative Alkene Alkylation Using Thiols

We report herein the development of a S atom transfer process using triethyl phosphite as the S atom acceptor that allows thiols to serve as precursors of C-centered radicals. A range of functionalized and electronically unbiased alkenes including those containing common heteroatom-based functional groups readily participate in this reductive coupling. This process is driven by the exchange of relatively weak S-H and C-S bonds of aliphatic thiols for C-H, C-C, and S-P bonds of the products formed.

Metal-free visible light photoredox enables generation of carbyne equivalents via phosphonium ylide C-H activation

Carbyne, an interesting synthetic intermediate, has recently been generated from hypervalent iodine precursors via photoredox catalysis. Given the underexplored chemistry of carbyne, due to the paucity of carbyne sources, we are intrigued to discover a new source for this reactive species from classical reagents - phosphonium ylides. Our novel strategy employing phosphonium ylides in an olefin hydrocarbonation reaction features a facile approach for constructing carbon-carbon bonds through metal-free and benign reaction conditions. Moreover, the hydrocarbonation products were delivered in a highly regioselective manner.

A metal-free desulfurizing radical reductive C–C coupling of thiols and alkenes

An intermolecular reductive C–C coupling of electrophilic alkyl radicals and alkenes has been developed.

A simple approach to indeno-coumarins via visible-light-induced cyclization of aryl alkynoates with diethyl bromomalonate

Visible-light-induced triple-domino cyclization between aryl alkynoates and diethyl bromomalonate was developed for the synthesis of indeno-coumarins.

Rapid Synthesis of γ-Arylated Carbonyls Enabled by the Merge of Copper- and Photocatalytic Radical Relay Alkylarylation of Alkenes

The development of mild and practical methods for the γ-arylation of carbonyl compounds is an ongoing challenge in organic synthesis. The first formal γ-arylation of carbonyl compounds via radical relay cross-coupling of α-bromocarbonyl precursors with boronic acids in the presence of alkenes is reported. This directing-group-free protocol allows for the rapid and straightforward access to a wide range of γ-arylated esters, ketones, and amides under ambient conditions with excellent functional group tolerance.

Synthesis of Elongated Esters from Alkenes

A convenient method for synthesizing elongated aliphatic esters from alkenes is reported. An (alkoxycarbonyl)methyl radical species is generated upon visible-light irradiation of an ester-stabilized phosphorus ylide in the presence of a photoredox catalyst. This radical species adds onto the carbon-carbon double bond of an alkene to produce an elongated aliphatic ester.

Radical chain repair: The hydroalkylation of polysubstituted unactivated alkenes

The concept of repair is widely used by nature to heal molecules such as proteins, lipids, sugars, and DNA that are damaged by hydrogen atom abstraction resulting from oxidative stress. We show that this strategy, rather undocumented in the field of synthetic organic chemistry, can be used in a radical chain reaction to enable notoriously intractable transformations. By overcoming the radical chain inhibitor properties of substituted alkenes, the radical-mediated hydroalkylation of mono-, di-, tri-, and even tetrasubstituted unactivated olefins could be performed under mild conditions. With a remarkable functional group tolerance, this reaction provides a general coupling method for the derivatization of olefin-containing natural products.

An efficient regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with TMSCF2CO2Et at ambient temperature

An efficient regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of diverse unactivated vicinal alkenes is described. The primary mechanistic investigations indicate that a CF₂COOEt radical species is involved.