Transient Spectroscopy of 5,7‐diiodo‐3‐butoxy‐6‐fluorone (DIBF)

DIBF (5,7‐diiodo‐3‐butoxy‐6‐fluorone) is a visible light photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salts, the latter being used in cationic photopolymerizations. Although photopolymerization of cycloaliphatic epoxide resins can be initiated by direct excitation of UV‐absorbing diaryliodonium salts, such as (p‐octyloxy)phenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate (OPPI), the short wavelengths required cause some practical problems. Sensitizers, of which DIBF is among the best, obviate the deep UV problem by allowing visible‐wavelength activation of the photoinitiator. Addition of 9,10‐diethoxyanthracene (AN 910 E) dramatically accelerates photopolymerization under visible irradiation of the DIBF/OPPI system. We report herein the transient spectroscopy of the photosensitizer DIBF and discuss likely mechanisms for sensitization of OPPI.     

Radical-Promoted Visible Light Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization of Epoxides

Herein is described the development of a three-component photoinitiator system that employs the free radical promoted decomposition of diaryliodonium salts for the visible light induced cationic polymerization of epoxides. A long wavelength, titanium-complex free radical photoinitiator is used to generate radicals that abstract hydrogen atoms from benzyl alcohol synergists. The resulting benzyl radical species efficiently reduce diaryliodonium salts thereby generating oxycarbenium ions that spontaneously fragment to form the corresponding aldehyde and a Br?nsted superacid. The superacid subsequently initiates the cationic ring-opening polymerization of a wide variety of epoxide monomers.     

Visible Light Accelerated Vinyl C–H Arylation in Pd‐Catalysis: Application in the Synthesis of ortho Tetra‐substituted Vinylarene Atropisomers

A visible light accelerated C–H functionalization reaction in palladium‐catalyzed arylation of vinyl arenes with diaryliodonium salts is reported in the absence of additional photosensitizer. The kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D) was changed from 3.6 (under darkness) to 1.1 when irradiated by visible light, which indicated that the C–H functionalization step was the rate determining step under darkness and significantly accelerated by the irradiation of visible light. Finally the synthesis of ortho tetra‐substituted vinylarene atropisomers with high enantiospecificity was realized via this protocol.     

A new visible light sensitive photoinitiator system for the cationic polymerization of epoxides

This communication reports the development of an efficient three‐component visible light sensitive photoinitiator system for the cationic ring‐opening photopolymerization of epoxide monomers and epoxide functional oligomers. The photoinitiator system consists of camphorquinone in combination with a benzyl alcohol to generate free radicals by the absorption of visible light. Subsequently, the radicals participate in the free radical chain induced decomposition of a diaryliodonium salt. The resulting strong Brønsted acid derived from this process catalyzes the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of a variety of epoxide substrates. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 866–875, 2009     

Curcumin: A naturally occurring long‐wavelength photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salts

Curcumin, a naturally occurring, intensely yellow dye extracted from the spice turmeric, is an efficient photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators at wavelengths ranging from 340 to 535 nm. With curcumin as a photosensitizer, it is possible to carry out the cationic photopolymerization of a wide variety of epoxide, oxetane, and vinyl monomers with long‐wavelength UV and visible light. An example of the photopolymerization of an epoxide monomer with ambient solar irradiation is provided. Several other curcumin analogues were synthesized, and their use as photosensitizers is examined. With such photosensitizers, the range of spectral sensitivity can be extended well into the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5217–5231, 2005     

Determination of Diaryliodonium Species by Reverse Iodometric Titration with Ascorbic Acid

Diaryliodonium salts are used in organic chemistry, materials science and pharmaceutical chemistry. For the quantitative analysis of diaryliodonium salts, only instrumentally demanding techniques requiring highly skilled operators are available. Surprisingly, no titration method taking advantage of the oxidising ability of diaryliodonium is available in the literature. In the present work, a titration method for the determination of diaryliodonium salts is presented. It is based on the reaction of diaryliodonium species with ascorbic acid, whose excess is subsequently determined by means of iodometric potentiometric titration. Application of the protocol to various diaryliodonium salts revealed the scope and limitations of the method.     

Iodonium Metathesis Reactions

A metathesis reaction occurs when a diaryliodonium triflate is heated with an aryl iodide, resulting in the formation of a new diaryliodonium triflate.     

Iron‐catalyzed carbon–sulfur bond formation: Atom‐economic construction of thioethers with diaryliodonium salts

Diaryliodonium salts are characterized by poor atom economy with the formation of one equivalent of an iodoarene as waste. We have developed an atom‐economic iron‐catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of a variety of thioethers with diaryliodonium salts. Not only cyclic diaryliodonium salts but also linear diaryliodonium salts were found to perform well in the reactions.     

Iodonium Metathesis Reactions

A metathesis reaction occurs when a diaryliodonium triflate is heated with an aryl iodide, resulting in the formation of a new diaryliodonium triflate.     

Metal-free synthesis of aryl esters from carboxylic acids and diaryliodonium salts

An efficient arylation of carboxylic acids with diaryliodonium salts has been developed, giving aryl esters in high yields within short reaction times for both aromatic and aliphatic substrates. The transition-metal-free conditions are compatible with a range of functional groups, and good chemoselectivity is observed with unsymmetric diaryliodonium salts. Furthermore, steric hindrance in the ortho positions is well tolerated both in the carboxylic acid and in the diaryliodonium salt, yielding aryl esters that cannot be obtained via other esterification protocols.     

Relayed Regioselective Alkynylation/Olefination of Unsymmetrical Cyclic Diaryliodonium Species Catalyzed by Cu and Pd: Affording Fluorescent Cytotoxic Benzoxazoles

Although cyclic diaryliodonium species have the potential to act as valuable synthons for cascade transformations, they still remain largely unexplored. The regioselectivity associated with unsymmetrical cyclic diaryliodonium species has previously been known to pose a challenge. A regioselective relayed alkynylation and olefination of unsymmetrical cyclic diaryliodonium species has been achieved by installation of a directing amido group. These relayed transformations were delayed until an oxazole ring had formed, delivering a series of unique fluorescent benzoxazoles. Moreover, some of these synthetic benzoxazoles showed apparent inhibitory activity against malignant cancer cells. Further confocal visualization revealed that benzoxazoles targeted cell nuclei. These findings might provide a novel structural scaffold to develop desirable anticancer agents.     

Direct arylation of tertiary amines via aryne intermediates using diaryliodonium salts

With a strategy by using diaryliodonium salts as the precursors of benzynes, direct N-arylation of tertiary amines with diaryliodonium salts was reported. Thus, the desired aromatic tertiary amines with a wide range of substituents were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields of 55–91%.     

Polydopamine as a Visible-Light Photosensitiser for Photoinitiated Polymerisation

Polydopamine (PDA) is a synthetic model for melanin and has a wide range of opto-electronic properties that underpin its utility in applied and biological settings, from broadband light absorbance to possessing stable free radical species. Here, we show that PDA free radicals are photo-responsive under visible light irradiation, enabling PDA to serve as a photo-redox catalyst. Steady-state and transient electron spin resonance spectroscopy reveals a reversible amplification in semiquinone radical population within PDA under visible light. This photo-response modifies the redox potential of PDA and supports sensitisation of exogenous species via photoinduced electron transfer (PET). We demonstrate the utility of this discovery by employing PDA nanoparticles to photosensitise a common diaryliodonium photoinitiator and initiate free-radical polymerisation (FRP) of vinylic monomers. In situ ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals an interplay between PDA-driven photosensitising and radical quenching during FRP under blue, green, and red light. This work provides crucial insights into the photoactive free radical properties of melanin-like materials and reveals a promising new application for polydopamine as a photosensitiser.     

Copper-catalyzed direct N-arylation of N-arylsulfonamides using diaryliodonium salts in water

An efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of N-arylsulfonamides with diaryliodonium salts is reported. The reaction employs diaryliodonium salts and N-arylsulfonamides in water at room temperature, giving the products in moderate to excellent yields.     

Domino N‐/C‐Arylation via In Situ Generation of a Directing Group: Atom‐Efficient Arylation Using Diaryliodonium Salts

Both aryl components of diaryliodonium salts can be used in a domino one‐pot reaction via in situ generation of a directing group. A number of heterocycles undergo N‐arylation which is followed by ruthenium‐catalyzed C‐arylation. Notably the reaction extends well to unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts with a number of highly selective examples shown.     

Regiospecific one-pot synthesis of diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates from arylboronic acids and aryl iodides

Diaryliodonium salts have recently received considerable attention as mild arylation reagents in organic synthesis. This paper describes a regiospecific, sequential one-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates, which are the most popular salts in metal-catalyzed arylations. The protocol is fast and high-yielding and has a large substrate scope. Furthermore, the corresponding diaryliodonium triflates can conveniently be obtained via an in situ anion exchange.     

Metal‐Free Arylation of Oxygen Nucleophiles with Diaryliodonium Salts

Phenols and carboxylic acids are efficiently arylated with diaryliodonium salts. The reaction conditions are mild, metal free, and avoid the use of halogenated solvents, additives, and excess reagents. The products are obtained in good‐to‐excellent yields after short reaction times. Steric hindrance is very well tolerated, both in the nucleophile and diaryliodonium salt. The scope includes ortho‐ and halo‐substituted products, which are difficult to obtain by metal‐catalyzed protocols. Many functional groups are tolerated, including carbonyl groups, heteroatoms, and alkenes. Unsymmetric salts can be chemoselectively utilized to obtain products with hitherto unreported levels of steric congestion. The arylation has been extended to sulfonic acids, which can be converted to sulfonate esters by two different approaches. With recent advances in efficient synthetic procedures for diaryliodonium salts the reagents are now inexpensive and readily available. The iodoarene byproduct formed from the iodonium reagent can be recovered quantitatively and used to regenerate the diaryliodonium salt, which improves the atom economy.     

Concise synthesis of xanthones by the tandem etherification——Acylation of diaryliodonium salts with salicylates

An efficient synthetic method for multi-substituted xanthones was developed. The reaction of diaryliodonium salts and salicylates was employed for the preparation of the xanthones. This method proceeded through an intermolecular etherification-acylation to give target heterocycle in good yields (up to 91%). Multi-substituted xanthones were gained by shifting the substituent of salicylates or diaryliodonium salts.     

Unprecedented directing group ability of cyclophanes in arene fluorinations with diaryliodonium salts

For the first time it is shown that exceptionally electron-rich arene rings can be fluorinated exclusively during the reductive elimination reactions of diaryliodonium fluorides. The 5-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophan-4-yl directing group simultaneously reduces unproductive aryne chemistry and eliminates ligand exchange reactions by a combination of steric and electronic effects. Use of the cyclophane directing group permits an unprecedented degree of control in fluorination reactions of diaryliodonium salts.     

C‐2 Selective Arylation of Indoles with Heterogeneous Nanopalladium and Diaryliodonium Salts

A simple and efficient method to prepare synthetically useful 2‐arylindoles is presented, using a heterogeneous Pd catalyst and diaryliodonium salts in water under mild conditions. A remarkably low leaching of metal catalyst was observed under the applied conditions. The developed protocol is highly C‐2 selective and tolerates structural variations both in the indole and in the diaryliodonium salt. Arylations of both N?H indoles and N‐protected indoles with ortho‐substituted, electron‐rich, electron‐deficient, or halogenated diaryliodonium salts were achieved to give the desired products in high to excellent isolated yields within 6 to 15 h at room temperature or 40 °C.