Synthesis of β,β-Dithioketones by Merging C-C and C-S Bond Cleavage in [1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1] Annulation

An unconventional [1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1] annulation process was developed for the construction of β,β-dithioketones by merging C-C and C-S bond cleavage. In this reaction, rongalite concurrently served as triple C1 units, dual sulfur(II) synthons, and a reductant for the first time. Mechanism investigation indicated that the reaction involved the self-mediated valence state change of rongalite. By performing this step-economical method, the challenging construction of C5-substituted 1,3-dithiane can be achieved under mild and simple conditions.

Acyl Azolium-Photoredox-Enabled Synthesis of β-Keto Sulfides

α-Heteroatom functionalization is a key strategy for C-C bond formation in organic synthesis, as exemplified by the addition of a nucleophile to electrophilic functional groups, such as iminium ions; oxocarbenium ions; and their sulfur analogues, sulfenium ions. We envisioned a photoredox-enabled radical Pummerer-type reaction realized through the single-electron oxidation of a sulfide. Following this oxidative event, α-deprotonation would afford α-thio radicals that participate in radical-radical coupling reactions with azolium-bound ketyl radicals, thereby accessing a commonly proposed mechanistic intermediate of the radical-radical coupling en route to functionalized additive Pummerer products. This system provides a complementary synthetic approach to highly functionalized sulfurous products, including modification of methionine residues in peptides, and beckons further exploration in C-C bond formations previously limited in the standard two-electron process.

Photoinduced Chemo-, Site- and Stereoselective α-C(sp3 )-H Functionalization of Sulfides

The ubiquity of sulfur-containing molecules in biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals has long attracted synthetic chemists to develop efficient strategies towards their synthesis. The strategy of direct α-C(sp³ )-H modification of sulfides provides a streamlining access to complex sulfur-containing molecules. Herein, we report a photoinduced chemo-, site- and stereoselective α-C(sp³ )-H functionalization of sulfides using isatins as the photoredox reagent and coupling partner catalyzed by a chiral gallium(III)-N,N'-dioxide complex. The reaction proceeds through a verified single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism with high efficiency, excellent functional group tolerance, as well as a broad substrate scope. Importantly, this cross-coupling protocol is highly selective for the direct late-stage functionalization of methionine-related peptides, regardless of the inherent structural similarity and complexity of diverse residues.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Oxidation of Anions for the Atom-Economical Hydro-, Amido-, and Dialkylation of Alkenes

Photoredox catalysis has become a powerful method to generate free radical intermediates in organic synthesis. This report describes the use of photoredox catalysis to directly oxidize common nucleophilic anions to access electrophilic 1,3-dicarbonyl and amidyl radical intermediates. First, conjugate bases of 1,3-dicarbonyls were oxidized to neutral radical species for intramolecular hydro- and dialkylation of alkenes. This overall redox-neutral process provided cyclopentanone products in excellent yields (up to 96%). The scope included a variety of styrene radical acceptors and products with newly formed vicinal quaternary carbons. This process was then extended to the synthesis of pyrrolidinones by alkene amidoalkylation that proceeded via N-aryl amidyl radical intermediates in good yield (up to 85%). These reactions were characterized by their mild conditions, high atom economy, and the absence of stoichiometric byproducts. Mechanistic and computational studies supported a stepwise proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism, where an "electron borrowing" photocatalyst oxidizes an anion and reduces a benzylic radical after bond formation.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Giese Reactions: Decarboxylative Additions to Cyclic Vinylogous Amides and Esters

An effective strategy has been developed for the photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative addition of cyclic amino acids to both vinylogous amides and esters leading to uniquely substituted heterocycles. The additions take place exclusively trans to the substituent present on the dihydropyridone ring affording stereochemical control about the new carbon-carbon bond. These reactions are operationally simplistic and afford the desired products in good to excellent isolated yields.

Photoredox-mediated hydroalkylation and hydroarylation of functionalized olefins for DNA-encoded library synthesis

DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology features a time- and cost-effective interrogation format for the discovery of therapeutic candidates in the pharmaceutical industry. To develop DEL platforms, the implementation of water-compatible transformations that facilitate the incorporation of multifunctional building blocks (BBs) with high C(sp3) carbon counts is integral for success. In this report, a decarboxylative-based hydroalkylation of DNA-conjugated trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes enabled by single-electron transfer (SET) and subsequent hydrogen atom termination through electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex activation is detailed. In a further photoredox-catalyzed hydroarylation protocol, the coupling of functionalized, electronically unbiased olefins is achieved under air and within minutes of blue light irradiation through the intermediacy of reactive (hetero)aryl radical species with full retention of the DNA tag integrity. Notably, these processes operate under mild reaction conditions, furnishing complex structural scaffolds with a high density of pendant functional groups.

α-Heteroarylation of Thioethers via Photoredox and Weak Brønsted Base Catalysis

We report the C-H activation of thioethers to α-thio alkyl radicals and their addition to N-methoxyheteroarenium salts for the redox-neutral synthesis of α-heteroaromatic thioethers. Studies are consistent with a two-step activation mechanism, where oxidation of thioethers to sulfide radical cations by a photoredox catalyst is followed by α-C-H deprotonation by a weak Brønsted base catalyst to afford α-thio alkyl radicals. Further, N-methoxyheteroarenium salts play additional roles as a source of methoxyl radical that contributes to α-thio alkyl radical generation and a sacrificial oxidant that regenerates the photoredox catalytic cycle.

Directing-Group-Assisted Markovnikov-Selective Hydrothiolation of Styrenes with Thiols by Photoredox/Cobalt Catalysis

In contrast with the well-developed radical thiol-ene reaction to access anti-Markovnikov-type products, the research on the catalytic Markovnikov-selective hydrothiolation of alkenes is very restricted. Because of the catalyst poisoning of metal catalysts by organosulfur compounds, limited examples of transition-metal-catalyzed thiol-ene reactions have been reported. However, in this work, a directing-group-assisted hydrothiolation of styrenes with thiols by photoredox/cobalt catalysis is found to proceed smoothly to afford Markovnikov-type sulfides with excellent regioselectivity.

Photocatalytic Reductive Radical-Polar Crossover for a Base-Free Corey-Seebach Reaction

A metal-free generation of carbanion nucleophiles is of prime importance in organic synthesis. Herein we report a photocatalytic approach to the Corey-Seebach reaction. The presented method operates under mild redox-neutral and base-free conditions giving the desired product with high functional group tolerance. The reaction is enabled by the combination of photo- and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis. This catalytic merger allows a C-H to carbanion activation by the abstraction of a hydrogen atom followed by radical reduction. The generated nucleophilic intermediate is then capable of adding to carbonyl electrophiles. The obtained dithiane can be easily converted to the valuable α-hydroxy carbonyl in a subsequent step. The proposed reaction mechanism is supported by emission quenching, radical-radical homocoupling and deuterium labeling studies as well as by calculated redox-potentials and bond strengths.

High Reactivity of α-Boryl Radical of Potassium Alkyltrifluoroborate in Atom-Transfer Radical Addition

We found that the α-boryl radical of potassium alkyltrifluoroborate shows higher reactivity compared to the α-boryl radicals of alkylboronic acid pinacol ester and alkyl N-methyl imidodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronate in the halogen atom abstraction step of atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) between alkyl bromide and vinylborons. In this research, an ATRA of alkyl halides with potassium vinyltrifluoroborate furnished unique alkylborons, which are difficult to synthesize by other methods.

Visible-light-mediated photocatalytic cross-coupling of acetenyl ketones with benzyl trifluoroborate

In this report, we describe a simple visible light-triggered Barbier-type reaction by employing acetenyl ketones with benzyl trifluoroborates. Through a radical-radical cross-coupling process, this photocatalytic protocol furnished a wide range of tertiary propargyl alcohols. Mechanistic investigation indicated that proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) might be involved in the photochemical transformations.

Photoinduced synthesis of alkylalkynyl sulfones through a reaction of potassium alkyltrifluoroborates, sulfur dioxide, and alkynyl bromides

A photoinduced reaction of potassium alkyltrifluoroborates, sodium metabisulfite, and alkynyl bromides under visible light irradiation at room temperature is developed.

A theoretical study on one-electron redox potentials of organotrifluoroborate anions

The E° values of different kinds of organotrifluoroborate anions were investigated by using the M05-2X method with a PCM–UAHF model.

Metal-Free and Redox-Neutral Conversion of Organotrifluoroborates into Radicals Enabled by Visible Light

Converting organoboron compounds into the corresponding radicals has broad synthetic applications in organic chemistry. To achieve these transformations, various strong oxidants such as Mn(OAc)₃ , AgNO₃ /K₂ S₂ O₈ , and Cu(OAc)₂ , in stoichiometric amounts are required, proceeding by a single-electron transfer mechanism. Established herein is a distinct strategy for generating both aryl and alkyl radicals from organotrifluoroborates through an S_H 2 process. This strategy is enabled by using water as the solvent, visible light as the energy input, and diacetyl as the promoter in the absence of any metal catalyst or redox reagent, thereby eliminating metal waste. To demonstrate its synthetic utility, an efficient acetylation to prepare valuable aryl (alkyl) methyl ketones is described and applications to construct C-C, C-I, C-Br, and C-S bonds are also feasible. Experimental evidence suggests that triplet diacetyl serves as the key intermediate in this process.

Silyl-mediated photoredox-catalyzed Giese reaction: addition of non-activated alkyl bromides

The emergence of photoredox catalysis has enabled the discovery of mild and efficient conditions for the generation of a variety of radical reaction platforms. Herein is disclosed the development of a conjugate addition reaction of non-activated alkyl bromides to Michael acceptors under visible-light photoredox catalysis. Optimization of the reaction was achieved using high-throughput experimentation (HTE) tools to enable the identification of mild, general and practical reaction conditions. A diverse set of alkyl bromides was successfully added to cyclic or acyclic α,β-unsaturated esters and amides. The features of this transformation allowed also access to a key intermediate of Vorinostat®, an HDAC inhibitor used to fight cancer and HIV.

Visible-Light Photocatalysis: Does It Make a Difference in Organic Synthesis?

Visible-light photocatalysis has evolved over the last decade into a widely used method in organic synthesis. Photocatalytic variants have been reported for many important transformations, such as cross-coupling reactions, α-amino functionalizations, cycloadditions, ATRA reactions, or fluorinations. To help chemists select photocatalytic methods for their synthesis, we compare in this Review classical and photocatalytic procedures for selected classes of reactions and highlight their advantages and limitations. In many cases, the photocatalytic reactions proceed under milder reaction conditions, typically at room temperature, and stoichiometric reagents are replaced by simple oxidants or reductants, such as air, oxygen, or amines. Does visible-light photocatalysis make a difference in organic synthesis? The prospect of shuttling electrons back and forth to substrates and intermediates or to selectively transfer energy through a visible-light-absorbing photocatalyst holds the promise to improve current procedures in radical chemistry and to open up new avenues by accessing reactive species hitherto unknown, especially by merging photocatalysis with organo- or metal catalysis.

Visible light-promoted alkylation of imines using potassium organotrifluoroborates

A mild, redox-neutral, alkylation of imines with potassium alkyltrifluoroborates is described. The reaction proceeds under photoredox conditions at ∼30 °C with primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyltrifluoroborates, leading to alkylation products in moderate to good yield in most cases. Aryl-, vinyl-, and cyclopropyltrifluoroborates failed to react under the reported conditions.

A Desulfurative Strategy for the Generation of Alkyl Radicals Enabled by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

Herein, we present a new desulfurative method for generating primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals through visible-light photoredox catalysis. A process that involves the generation of N-centered radicals from sulfinamide intermediates, followed by subsequent fragmentation, is critical to forming the corresponding alkyl radical species. This strategy has been successfully applied to conjugate addition reactions that features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope (>60 examples), and good functional-group tolerance.

Photocatalysis in organic and polymer synthesis

This review, with over 600 references, summarizes the recent applications of photoredox catalysis for organic transformation and polymer synthesis. Photoredox catalysts are metallo- or organo-compounds capable of absorbing visible light, resulting in an excited state species. This excited state species can donate or accept an electron from other substrates to mediate redox reactions at ambient temperature with high atom efficiency. These catalysts have been successfully implemented for the discovery of novel organic reactions and synthesis of added-value chemicals with an excellent control of selectivity and stereo-regularity. More recently, such catalysts have been implemented by polymer chemists to post-modify polymers in high yields, as well as to effectively catalyze reversible deactivation radical polymerizations and living polymerizations. These catalysts create new approaches for advanced organic transformation and polymer synthesis. The objective of this review is to give an overview of this emerging field to organic and polymer chemists as well as materials scientists.

An expeditious and efficient bromomethylation of thiols: enabling bromomethyl sulfides as useful building blocks

A facile and highly efficient method for the bromomethylation of thiols, using paraformaldehyde and HBr/AcOH, has been developed, which advantageously minimizes the generation of highly toxic byproducts. The preparation of 22 structurally diverse α-bromomethyl sulfides illustrates the chemo-tolerant applicability while bromo-lithium exchange and functionalization sequences, free radical reductions, and additions of the title compounds demonstrate their synthetic utility.

A new method for the bromomethylation of thiols using paraformaldehyde and HBr/AcOH, minimizes the generation of toxic byproducts. Synthetic utility of α-bromomethyl sulfides was demonstrated through umpolung and free radical chemistry.

Photoinduced synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones through the insertion of sulfur dioxide

Under visible light irradiation, a three-component reaction of potassium alkyltrifluoroborates, sulfur dioxide and alkynes with the assistance of photocatalysis and in the presence of copper(ii) triflate is described. This transformation affords (E)-vinyl sulfones efficiently with excellent regioselectivity and stereoselectivity under mild conditions.

Recent advances in the sulfonylation of alkenes with the insertion of sulfur dioxide via radical reactions

Recent advances in the sulfonylation of alkenes via the insertion of sulfur dioxide are summarized. Two strategies for the sulfonylation of alkenes with the insertion of sulfur dioxide have been developed.

Regiospecific alkyl addition of (hetero)arene-fused thiophenes enabled by a visible-light-mediated photocatalytic desulfuration approach

A unique photoredox desulfuration approach enabling the regiospecific alkyl addition of (hetero)arene-fused thiophenes is presented.

A Lewis Base Catalysis Approach for the Photoredox Activation of Boronic Acids and Esters

We report herein the use of a dual catalytic system comprising a Lewis base catalyst such as quinuclidin-3-ol or 4-dimethylaminopyridine and a photoredox catalyst to generate carbon radicals from either boronic acids or esters. This system enabled a wide range of alkyl boronic esters and aryl or alkyl boronic acids to react with electron-deficient olefins via radical addition to efficiently form C-C coupled products in a redox-neutral fashion. The Lewis base catalyst was shown to form a redox-active complex with either the boronic esters or the trimeric form of the boronic acids (boroxines) in solution.

Photoredox radical conjugate addition of dithiane-2-carboxylate promoted by an iridium(iii) phenyl-tetrazole complex: a formal radical methylation of Michael acceptors

A readily accessible iridium(iii) phenyl-tetrazole complex ([Ir(ptrz)2(tBu-bpy)]+, 2; Hptrz = 2-methyl-5-phenyl-tetrazole; tBu-bpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) is shown to be a versatile catalyst for a new photocatalytic Michael reaction. Under light irradiation in the presence of 2, a dithiane 2-carboxylic acid, obtained by simple hydrolysis of a commercially available ethyl ester, generates a 1,3-dithiane radical capable of performing addition to a variety of Michael acceptors (e.g., unsaturated ketones, esters, amides and malonates). This broad scope reaction with high yields is a formal photo-redox addition of the elusive methyl radical and the adducts obtained can be starting materials for a variety of functionalized products. The excited-state oxidation potential of catalyst 2 allows selective formation of radicals only from α-heterosubstituted carboxylates. Chemical modification of this metal complex can tune the electrochemical properties, opening a route to new highly selective catalytic photo-oxidation reactions.

Photoredox Catalysis for the Generation of Carbon Centered Radicals

Radical chemistry has witnessed over the last decades important advances that have positioned it as a methodology of choice in synthetic chemistry. A number of great attributes such as specific reactivities, the knowledge of the kinetics of most elementary processes, the functional group tolerance, and the possibility to operate cascade sequences are clearly responsible for this craze. Nevertheless, at the end of the last century, radical chemistry appeared plagued by several hurdles to overcome such as the use of environmentally problematic mediators or the impossibility of scale up. While the concept of photocatalysis was firmly established in the coordination chemistry community, its diffusion in organic synthetic chemistry remained sporadic for decades until the end of the 2000s with the breakthrough merging of organocatalysis and photocatalysis by the MacMillan group and contemporary reports by the groups of Yoon and Stephenson. Since then, photoredox catalysis has enjoyed particularly active and intense developments. It is now the topic of a still increasing number of publications featuring various applications from asymmetric synthesis, total synthesis of natural products, and polymerization to process (flow) chemistry. In this Account, we survey our own efforts in this domain, focusing on the elaboration of new photocatalytic pathways that could lead to the efficient generation of C-centered functionalized alkyl and aryl radicals. Both reductive and oxidative manifolds are accessible through photoredox catalysis, which has guided us along these lines in our projects. Thus, we studied the photocatalytic reduction of onium salts such as sulfoniums and iodoniums for the production of the elusive aryl radical intermediates. Progressing to more relevant chemistry for synthesis, we examined the cleavage of C-O and the C-Br bonds for the generation of alkyl C-centered radicals. Activated epoxides could serve as valuable substrates of a photocatalyzed variant of the Nugent-RajanBabu-Gansäuer homolytic cleavage of epoxides. Using imidazole based carbamates, we could also devise the first photocatalyzed Barton-McCombie deoxygenation reaction. Finally, bromophenylacetate can be reduced using the [Au2(μ-dppm)2]Cl2 photocatalyst under UVA or visible-light. This was used for the initiation of the controlled atom transfer radical polymerization of methacrylates and acrylates in solution or laminate. Our next endeavors concerned the photocatalyzed oxidation of stabilized carbanions such as enolates of 1,3-dicarbonyl substrates, trifluoroborates, and more extensively bis-catecholato silicates. Because of their low oxidation potentials, the later have proved to be exquisite sources of radical entities, which can be engaged in diverse intermolecular reactions such as vinylation, alkynylation, and conjugate additions. The bis-catecholato silicates were also shown to behave as excellent partners of dual photoredox-nickel catalysis leading in an expeditious manner to libraries of cross coupling products.

Combination of organotrifluoroborates with photoredox catalysis marking a new phase in organic radical chemistry

Combination of organotrifluoroborates and visible-light-driven photoredox catalysis, both of which have attracted the attention of synthetic chemists, marks a new phase in the field of organic radical chemistry. We have developed photoredox-catalyzed radical reactions with organotrifluoroborates, which turn out to serve not only as a source of organic radicals but also as radical acceptors. The first part of this Perspective deals with the generation of organic radicals from organotrifluoroborates, and the latter part describes addition of the CF3 radical to alkenyltrifluoroborates. The good chemistry between organoborates and photoredox catalysis and its future will be discussed.