Visible‐Light‐Induced Decarboxylative Functionalization of Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives

Visible‐light‐induced radical decarboxylative functionalization of carboxylic acids and their derivatives has recently received considerable attention as a novel and efficient method to create C? C and C? X bonds. Generally, this visible‐light‐promoted decarboxylation process can smoothly occur under mild reaction conditions with a broad range of substrates and an excellent functional‐group tolerance. The radical species formed from the decarboxylation step can participate in not only single photocatalytic transformations, but also dual‐catalytic cross‐coupling reactions by combining photoredox catalysis with other catalytic processes. Recent advances in this research area are discussed herein.     

Redox‐Neutral α‐Allylation of Amines by Combining Palladium Catalysis and Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis

An unprecedented α‐allylation of amines was achieved by combining palladium catalysis and visible‐light photoredox catalysis. In this dual catalysis process, the catalytic generation of allyl radical from the corresponding π‐allylpalladium intermediate was achieved without additional metal reducing reagents (redox‐neutral). Various allylation products of amines were obtained in high yields through radical cross‐coupling under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the transformation was applied to the formal synthesis of 8‐oxoprotoberberine derivatives which show potential anticancer properties.     

β‐Selective Aroylation of Activated Alkenes by Photoredox Catalysis

Late‐stage synthesis of α,β‐unsaturated aryl ketones remains an unmet challenge in organic synthesis. Reported herein is a photocatalytic non‐chain‐radical aroyl chlorination of alkenes by a 1,3‐chlorine atom shift to form β‐chloroketones as masked enones that liberate the desired enones upon workup. This strategy suppresses side reactions of the enone products. The reaction tolerates a wide array of functional groups and complex molecules including derivatives of peptides, sugars, natural products, nucleosides, and marketed drugs. Notably, addition of 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐pyridine enhances the quantum yield and efficiency of the cross‐coupling reaction. Experimental and computational studies suggest a mechanism involving PCET, formation and reaction of an α‐chloro‐α‐hydroxy benzyl radical, and 1,3‐chlorine atom shift.     

Repairing the Thiol‐Ene Coupling Reaction

Thiol‐ene coupling (TEC) reactions emerged as one of the most useful processes for coupling different molecular units under reaction mild conditions. However, TEC reactions involving weak C? H bonds (allylic and benzylic fragments) are difficult to run and often low yielding. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that hydrogen‐atom transfer processes at allylic and benzylic positions are responsible for the lack of efficiency of the radical‐chain process. These competing reactions cannot be prevented, but reported herein is a method to repair the chain process by running the reaction in the presence of triethylborane and catechol. Under these reaction conditions, a unique repair mechanism leads to an efficient chain reaction, which is demonstrated with a broad range of anomeric O‐allyl sugar derivatives including mono‐, di‐, and tetrasaccharides bearing various functionalities and protecting groups.     

Visible‐Light‐Driven Self‐Coupling of Methylarenes Catalyzed by Ni2P@Cd0.5Zn0.5S Nanoparticles

The Ni₂P@Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S nanoparticles photocatalyzed self‐coupling of p‐xylene was reported here, and the corresponding coupling product 1,2‐di‐p‐tolylethane was obtained. The reaction could be extended to toluene derivatives with electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents. Ni₂P@Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S nanoparticles had already been characterized by XRD, ICP‐AES, SEM, TEM, UV/Vis, FL, XPS. The Mott–Schottky curves of Ni₂P@Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S were made through electrochemical methods. An active carbon free‐radical was captured through ESR measurement under irradiation. The research demonstrated this photocatalytic system feasible for the self‐coupling reaction of toluene derivatives.     

Titanocene(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Reaction of Secondary Amides,Aldehydes, and Electrophilic Alkenes

An umpolung Mannich‐type reaction of secondary amides, aliphatic aldehydes, and electrophilic alkenes has been disclosed. This reaction features the one‐pot formation of C N and C C bonds by a titanocene‐catalyzed radical coupling of the condensation products, from secondary amides and aldehydes, with electrophilic alkenes. N‐substituted γ‐amido‐acid derivatives and γ‐amido ketones can be efficiently prepared by the current method. Extension to the reaction between ketoamides and electrophilic alkenes allows rapid assembly of piperidine skeletons with α‐amino quaternary carbon centers. Its synthetic utility has been demonstrated by a facile construction of the tricyclic core of marine alkaloids such as cylindricine C and polycitorol A.     

Selective 1,2‐Aryl‐Aminoalkylation of Alkenes Enabled by Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

A highly chemo‐ and regioselective intermolecular 1,2‐aryl‐aminoalkylation of alkenes by photoredox/nickel dual catalysis is described here. This three‐component conjunctive cross‐coupling is highlighted by its first application of primary alkyl radicals, which were not compatible in previous reports. The readily prepared α‐silyl amines could be transferred to α‐amino radicals by photo‐induced single electron transfer step. The radical addition/cross‐coupling cascade reaction proceeds under mild, base‐free and redox‐neutral conditions with good functional group tolerance, and importantly, provides an efficient and concise method for the synthesis of structurally valuable α‐aryl substituted γ‐amino acid derivatives motifs.     

Titanocene(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Reaction of Secondary Amides,Aldehydes, and Electrophilic Alkenes

An umpolung Mannich‐type reaction of secondary amides, aliphatic aldehydes, and electrophilic alkenes has been disclosed. This reaction features the one‐pot formation of C? N and C? C bonds by a titanocene‐catalyzed radical coupling of the condensation products, from secondary amides and aldehydes, with electrophilic alkenes. N‐substituted γ‐amido‐acid derivatives and γ‐amido ketones can be efficiently prepared by the current method. Extension to the reaction between ketoamides and electrophilic alkenes allows rapid assembly of piperidine skeletons with α‐amino quaternary carbon centers. Its synthetic utility has been demonstrated by a facile construction of the tricyclic core of marine alkaloids such as cylindricine C and polycitorol A.     

Cu‐Catalyzed Cross‐Dehydrogenative ortho‐Aminomethylation of Phenols

A highly selective Cu^II‐catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative ortho‐aminomethylation of phenols with aniline derivatives is described. The corresponding C(sp²)?C(sp³) coupling products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions and with a broad substrate scope. A radical mechanism is proposed.     

Nitroxyl‐Radical‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Amides with Silylated Nucleophiles through N‐Halogenation

A nitroxyl‐radical‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction between amines with an N‐protecting electron‐withdrawing group (EWG) and silylated nucleophiles was developed to furnish coupling products in high yields, thus opening up new frontiers in organocatalyzed reactions. This reaction proceeded through the activation of N‐halogenated amides by a nitroxyl‐radical catalyst, followed by carbon–carbon coupling with silylated nucleophiles. Studies of the reaction mechanism indicated that the nitroxyl radical activates N‐halogenated amides, which are generated from N‐EWG‐protected amides and a halogenation reagent, to give the corresponding imines.     

Monofluoroalkenylation of Dimethylamino Compounds through Radical–Radical Cross‐Coupling

An unprecedented and challenging radical–radical cross‐coupling of α‐aminoalkyl radicals with monofluoroalkenyl radicals derived from gem‐difluoroalkenes was achieved. This first example of tandem C(sp³)?H and C(sp²)?F bond functionalization through visible‐light photoredox catalysis offers a facile and flexible access to privileged tetrasubstituted monofluoroalkenes under very mild reaction conditions. The striking features of this redox‐neutral method in terms of scope, functional‐group tolerance, and regioselectivity are illustrated by the late‐stage fluoroalkenylation of complex molecular architectures such as bioactive (+)‐diltiazem, rosiglitazone, dihydroartemisinin, oleanic acid, and androsterone derivatives, which represent important new α‐amino C?H monofluoroalkenylations.     

Degradable multisegmented polymers synthesized by consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction of α,ω‐macrobiradicals and nitroso compound

A consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction induced by spin‐trapping agent is applied to produce degradable multisegmented polymer using α,ω‐dibromo polymer as a precursor. The macroradical generated by single electron transfer process catalyzed by Cu/PMDETA from α,ω‐dibromo polymer can be efficiently captured by 2‐methyl‐2‐nitrosopropane (MNP), which results in nitroxide radical. The in situ formed nitroxide radical immediately undergoes cross‐coupling reaction with polymeric radical, generating block polymer bridged with alkoxyamine moiety. The consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction generates multisegmented polymer via step‐growth mechanism. Different multisegmented polymers have been prepared from α,ω‐dibromo‐PS, PtBA, and PtBA‐PS‐PtBA. The block number of multisegmented polymers can be tailored by varying the feed ratio of α,ω‐dibromo precursor to MNP. The multisegmented polymer can be degraded in the presence of hydrogen atom donor or air, and the molecular weight distribution transformed back into shape of its original precursor as it is conjugated by alkoxyamine moieties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Reversed Electron Apportionment in Mesolytic Cleavage: The Reduction of Benzyl Halides by SmI2

The paradigm that the cleavage of the radical anion of benzyl halides occurs in such a way that the negative charge ends up on the departing halide leaving behind a benzyl radical is well rooted in chemistry. By studying the kinetics of the reaction of substituted benzylbromides and chlorides with SmI₂ in THF it was found that substrates para‐substituted with electron‐withdrawing groups (CN and CO₂Me), which are capable of forming hydrogen bonds with a proton donor and coordinating to samarium cation, react in a reversed electron apportionment mode. Namely, the halide departs as a radical. This conclusion is based on the found convex Hammett plots, element effects, proton donor effects, and the effect of tosylate (OTs) as a leaving group. The latter does not tend to tolerate radical character on the oxygen atom. In the presence of a proton donor, the tolyl derivatives were the sole product, whereas in its absence, the coupling dimer was obtained by a S_N2 reaction of the benzyl anion on the neutral substrate. The data also suggest that for the para‐CN and CO₂Me derivatives in the presence of a proton donor, the first electron transfer is coupled with the proton transfer.     

A Pyridine–Pyridine Cross‐Coupling Reaction via Dearomatized Radical Intermediates

A pyridine–pyridine coupling reaction has been developed between pyridyl phosphonium salts and cyanopyridines using B₂pin₂ as an electron‐transfer reagent. Complete regio‐ and cross‐selectivity are observed when forming a range of valuable 2,4′‐bipyridines. Phosphonium salts were found to be the only viable radical precursors in this process, and mechanistic studies indicate that the process does not proceed through a Minisci‐type coupling involving a pyridyl radical. Instead, a radical–radical coupling process between a boryl phosphonium pyridyl radical and a boryl‐stabilized cyanopyridine radical explains the C?C bond‐forming step.     

Photocatalytic Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling of Alkenes with Alcohols or Azoles without External Oxidant

Direct cross‐coupling between alkenes/R‐H or alkenes/RXH is a dream reaction, especially without external oxidants. Inputting energy by photocatalysis and employing a cobalt catalyst as a two‐electron acceptor, a direct C−H/X−H cross‐coupling with H₂ evolution has been achieved for C−O and C−N bond formation. A new radical alkenylation using alkene as the redox compound is presented. A wide range of aliphatic alcohols—even long chain alcohols—are tolerated well in this system, providing a new route to multi‐substituted enol ether derivatives using simple alkenes. Additionally, this protocol can also be used for N ‐vinylazole synthesis. Mechanistic insights reveal that the cobalt catalyst oxidizes the photocatalyst to revive the photocatalytic cycle.     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Photodimerization within the Confined Space of a Homochiral Ruthenium/Palladium Heterometallic Coordination Cage

The photoinduced regio‐ and enantioselective coupling of naphthols and derivatives thereof is achieved in the confined chiral coordination space of a Ru^II metalloligand based cage. The racemic or enantiopure cages encapsulate naphthol guests, which then undergo a regiospecific 1,4‐coupling, rather than the normal 1,1‐coupling, to form 4‐(2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthyl)‐1,2‐napthoquinones; moderate stereochemical control is achieved with homochiral cages. The photoreactions proceed under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions but through distinct pathways that nevertheless involve the same radical intermediates. This unusual dimerization constitutes a very rare example of asymmetric induction in biaryl coupling by making use of coordination cages with dual functionality—photoredox reactivity and stereoselectivity.     

Thermodegradable multisegmented polymer synthesized by consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction of α,ω‐macrobiradicals and dithioester

A consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction involving dithioester is applied to produce thermodegradable multisegmented polymer using α,ω‐dibromo polymer as precursor. The macroradical generated by single electron transfer process promoted by Cu/ligand from α,ω‐dibromo polymer can efficiently add to ethyl dithiobenzoate, which results intermediate adduct radical. The in situ formed adduct radical immediately undergoes crosscoupling reaction with macroradical, generating segmented polymer bridged with C? S bond. The consecutive radical addition‐coupling reaction generates multisegmented polymer linked by C? S bond following step‐growth mechanism. The multisegmented polymer can be thermodegraded in the presence of hydrogen atom donor or air. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Recent advances in oxidative C–C coupling reaction of amides with carbon nucleophiles

The C–C coupling reaction of N-electron withdrawing group (EWG) protected amides with coupling partners is one of the most important methods for C–C bond formation at the α-position of amides to directly give α-substituted amides. Of the four reactions, namely, the reaction via the generation of carbanion with an electrophile, that via the generation of carbon radical with a radical donor, that via the generation of iminium ion species with a nucleophile (oxidative coupling reaction), and that using a transition metal carbenoid, the oxidative coupling reaction presents a challenge although the reaction products are very useful for the transformation of a wide range of nitrogen-containing derivatives. In this review, recent developments in the oxidative coupling reaction of N-EWG protected amides with nucleophiles are summarized with focus on the reaction using a transition metal, the transition-metal-free reaction, the enantioselective reaction using a chiral catalysts, and the organocatalyzed oxidative coupling reaction.     

Reactivity insight into reductive coupling and aldol cyclization of chalcones by visible light photocatalysis

The reductive coupling and cyclization of chalcones to generate cyclopentanol derivatives in up to 84% yield by visible light photoredox catalysis is described. This reaction involves radical anion homocoupling, monoprotonation, and intramolecular cyclization cascade.     

Photoinduced Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Decarboxylative Alkynylation with Terminal Alkynes

We describe a photoinduced copper‐catalyzed asymmetric radical decarboxylative alkynylation of bench‐stable N‐hydroxyphthalimide(NHP)‐type esters of racemic alkyl carboxylic acids with terminal alkynes, which provides a flexible platform for the construction of chiral C(sp³)?C(sp) bonds. Critical to the success of this process are not only the use of the copper catalyst as a dual photo‐ and cross‐coupling catalyst but also tuning of the NHP‐type esters to inhibit the facile homodimerization of the alkyl radical and terminal alkyne, respectively. Owing to the use of stable and easily available NHP‐type esters, the reaction features a broader substrate scope compared with reactions using the alkyl halide counterparts, covering (hetero)benzyl‐, allyl‐, and aminocarbonyl‐substituted carboxylic acid derivatives, and (hetero)aryl and alkyl as well as silyl alkynes, thus providing a vital complementary approach to the previously reported method.