Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross-coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross-coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross-coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional-group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α-amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross-coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross‐coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross‐coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross‐coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional‐group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α‐amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross‐coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

Pd/PR3-catalyzed cross-coupling of aromatic carboxylic acids with electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes via combination of decarboxylation with sp2 C-H cleavage

By using Pd(TFA)(2)/PCy(3) as a catalyst, a broad range of aromatic carboxylic acids, including heteroaromatic carboxylic acids, efficiently underwent decarboxylative coupling with an array of polyfluoroarenes in the presence of stoichiometric amount of silver salts to generate biaryls. Silver salts were adjusted to the reactivity of aromatic carboxylic acids to efficiently suppress the protodecarboxylation and therefore improve decarboxylative cross-couplings. It was established that the palladium complex containing the PCy(3) ligand was capable of catalyzing the decarboxylation of electron-rich aromatic carboxylic acids, and silver salts promoted the decarboxylation of both electron-rich and -deficient ones. To explain the two different decarboxylation processes, two possible reaction pathways are proposed, which were further supported by the facts that the stoichiometric arylpalladium complex can directly arylate pentafluorobenzene in the presence of PCy(3) and the arylpalladium complex can catalyze the decarboxylative coupling of 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid with pentafluorobenzene. The kinetic isotope effect of 4.0 clearly showed that the C-H bond cleavage of polyfluoroarenes is involved in the rate-determining step.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer from Xanthates to Acyl Azoliums: Divergent Ketone Synthesis via N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

Considering the prevalence of alcohols and carboxylic acids, their fragment cross-coupling reactions could hold significant implications in organic synthesis. Herein, we report a versatile method for synthesizing a diverse range of ketones from alcohols and carboxylic acid derivatives via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that photoexcited xanthates and acyl azoliums undergo single electron transfer (SET) under photocatalyst-free conditions, generating NHC-derived ketyl radicals and alkyl radicals. These open-shell intermediates subsequently undergo the radical-radical cross-coupling reaction, yielding valuable ketones. Furthermore, this approach can be employed in three-component reactions involving alkenes and enynes, resulting in structurally diverse cross-coupled ketones. The unified strategy offers a unique opportunity for the fragment coupling of a diverse range of alcohols and carboxylic acid derivatives, accommodating diverse functional groups even in complex settings.     

Visible‐Light‐Mediated Decarboxylative Radical Additions to Vinyl Boronic Esters: Rapid Access to γ‐Amino Boronic Esters

The synthesis of alkyl boronic esters by direct decarboxylative radical addition of carboxylic acids to vinyl boronic esters is described. The reaction proceeds under mild photoredox catalysis and involves an unprecedented single‐electron reduction of an α‐boryl radical intermediate to the corresponding anion. The reaction is amenable to a diverse range of substrates, including α‐amino, α‐oxy, and alkyl carboxylic acids, thus providing a novel method to rapidly access boron‐containing molecules of potential biological importance.     

Photoredox/Cobalt Dual-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Elimination of Carboxylic Acids: Development and Mechanistic Insight

Recently, dual-catalytic strategies towards the decarboxylative elimination of carboxylic acids have gained attention. Our lab previously reported a photoredox/cobaloxime dual catalytic method that allows the synthesis of enamides and enecarbamates directly from N-acyl amino acids and avoids the use of any stoichiometric reagents. Further development, detailed herein, has improved upon this transformation's utility and further experimentation has provided new insights into the reaction mechanism. These new developments and insights are anticipated to aid in the expansion of photoredox/cobalt dual-catalytic systems.     

Catalytic Access to Alkyl Bromides,Chlorides and Iodides via Visible Light‐Promoted Decarboxylative Halogenation

Herein is reported the catalytic, visible light‐promoted, decarboxylative halogenation (bromination, chlorination, and iodination) of aliphatic carboxylic acids. This operationally‐simple reaction tolerates a range of functional groups, proceeds at room temperature, and is redox neutral. By employing an iridium photocatalyst in concert with a halogen atom source, the use of stoichiometric metals such as silver, mercury, thallium, and lead can be circumvented. This reaction grants access to valuable synthetic building blocks from the large pool of cheap, readily available carboxylic acids.     

Decarboxylative C(sp3)−O Cross‐Coupling

Alkyl aryl ethers are an important class of compounds in medicinal and agricultural chemistry. Catalytic C(sp³)?O cross‐coupling of alkyl electrophiles with phenols is an unexplored disconnection strategy to the synthesis of alkyl aryl ethers, with the potential to overcome some of the major limitations of existing methods such as C(sp²)?O cross‐coupling and S_N2 reactions. Reported here is a tandem photoredox and copper catalysis to achieve decarboxylative C(sp³)?O coupling of alkyl N‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) esters with phenols under mild reaction conditions. This method was used to synthesize a diverse set of alkyl aryl ethers using readily available alkyl carboxylic acids, including many natural products and drug molecules. Complementarity in scope and functional‐group tolerance to existing methods was demonstrated.     

Electrophotocatalytic Decarboxylative C−H Functionalization of Heteroarenes

Decarboxylative C?H functionalization reactions are highly attractive methods for forging carbon–carbon bonds considering their inherent step‐ and atom‐economical features and the pervasiveness of carboxylic acids and C?H bonds. An ideal approach to achieve these dehydrogenative transformations is through hydrogen evolution without using any chemical oxidants. However, effective couplings by decarboxylative carbon–carbon bond formation with proton reduction remain an unsolved challenge. Herein, we report an electrophotocatalytic approach that merges organic electrochemistry with photocatalysis to achieve the efficient direct decarboxylative C?H alkylation and carbamoylation of heteroaromatic compounds through hydrogen evolution. This electrophotocatalytic method, which combines the high efficiency and selectivity of photocatalysis in promoting decarboxylation with the superiority of electrochemistry in effecting proton reduction, enables the efficient coupling of a wide range of heteroaromatic bases with a variety of carboxylic acids and oxamic acids. Advantageously, this method is scalable to decagram amounts, and applicable to the late‐stage functionalization of drug molecules.     

Electrophotocatalytic Decarboxylative C−H Functionalization of Heteroarenes

Decarboxylative C−H functionalization reactions are highly attractive methods for forging carbon–carbon bonds considering their inherent step- and atom-economical features and the pervasiveness of carboxylic acids and C−H bonds. An ideal approach to achieve these dehydrogenative transformations is through hydrogen evolution without using any chemical oxidants. However, effective couplings by decarboxylative carbon–carbon bond formation with proton reduction remain an unsolved challenge. Herein, we report an electrophotocatalytic approach that merges organic electrochemistry with photocatalysis to achieve the efficient direct decarboxylative C−H alkylation and carbamoylation of heteroaromatic compounds through hydrogen evolution. This electrophotocatalytic method, which combines the high efficiency and selectivity of photocatalysis in promoting decarboxylation with the superiority of electrochemistry in effecting proton reduction, enables the efficient coupling of a wide range of heteroaromatic bases with a variety of carboxylic acids and oxamic acids. Advantageously, this method is scalable to decagram amounts, and applicable to the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules.     

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.     

Pd-catalysed decarboxylative Suzuki reactions and orthogonal Cu-based O-arylation of aromatic carboxylic acids

Pd-catalysed decarboxylative Suzuki reactions and orthogonal Cu-based O-arylation reactions of aromatic carboxylic acids are reported. The new reactions may provide alternative routes for the synthesis of some biaryls and aromatic carboxylic esters.     

An expedient synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxy ketones via decarboxylative aldol reaction of α,α-difluoro-β-keto acids with aldehydes

A novel decarboxylative aldol reaction of α,α-difluoro-β-keto acids with aldehydes in the absence of any base and metal catalysts has been developed. This reaction provides a highly convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of structurally diverse α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxy ketones in good to excellent yields.     

Visible-Light-Enabled Direct Decarboxylative N-Alkylation

The development of efficient and selective C−N bond-forming reactions from abundant feedstock chemicals remains a central theme in organic chemistry owing to the key roles of amines in synthesis, drug discovery, and materials science. Herein, we present a dual catalytic system for the N-alkylation of diverse aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic amines directly with carboxylic acids, by-passing their preactivation as redox-active esters. The reaction, which is enabled by visible-light-driven, acridine-catalyzed decarboxylation, provides access to N-alkylated secondary and tertiary anilines and N-heterocycles. Additional examples, including double alkylation, the installation of metabolically robust deuterated methyl groups, and tandem ring formation, further demonstrate the potential of the direct decarboxylative alkylation (DDA) reaction.     

Direct Catalytic Decarboxylative Amination of Aryl Acetic Acids

The decarboxylative coupling of a carboxylic acid with an amine nucleophile provides an alternative to the substitution of traditional organohalide coupling partners. Benzoic and alkynyl acids may be directly aminated by oxidative catalysis. In contrast, methods for intermolecular alkyl carboxylic acid to amine conversion, including amidate rearrangements and photoredox‐promoted approaches, require stoichiometric activation of the acid unit to generate isocyanate or radical intermediates. Reported here is a process for the direct chemoselective decarboxylative amination of electron‐poor arylacetates by oxidative Cu catalysis. The reaction proceeds at (or near) room temperature, uses native carboxylic acid starting materials, and is compatible with protic, electrophilic, and other potentially complicating functionality. Mechanistic studies support a pathway in which ionic decarboxylation of the acid generates a benzylic nucleophile which is aminated in a Chan–Evans–Lam‐type process.     

Platinum/Copper Dual-Catalyzed Asymmetric Vinylogous Addition Reactions for the Synthesis of Functionalized Indoles

The development of multicomponent ligands to improve catalytic reactivity and selectivity remains a significant challenge for the synthesis of chiral building blocks. Here, a modular synthesis of structurally diverse multiligated platinum complexes, characterized by X-ray crystallography, was revealed to open up a previously inaccessible reaction space. A library of more than 16 binary component-ligated platinum complexes was identified as a practical toolkit to enable faster screening. The isolated bench-stable Pt^II(oxazoline)(phosphine) complex paired with a chiral copper complex exhibits fundamentally new cooperative reactivity. The newly designed Pt/Cu dual catalytic system contributed to the development of highly enantioselective vinylogous addition reactions between a Pt-activated electrophilic α,β-unsaturated carbene and a Cu-activated nucleophile, resulting in a reliable process for the asymmetric synthesis of valuable functionalized indoles in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Dialkyl Ketones from the Coupling of N‐Alkyl Pyridinium Salts with Activated Carboxylic Acids

While ketones are among the most versatile functional groups, their synthesis remains reliant upon reactive and low‐abundance starting materials. In contrast, amide formation is the most‐used bond‐construction method in medicinal chemistry because the chemistry is reliable and draws upon large and diverse substrate pools. A new method for the synthesis of ketones is presented here that draws from the same substrates used for amide bond synthesis: amines and carboxylic acids. A nickel terpyridine catalyst couples N‐alkyl pyridinium salts with in situ formed carboxylic acid fluorides or 2‐pyridyl esters under reducing conditions (Mn metal). The reaction has a broad scope, as demonstrated by the synthesis of 35 different ketones bearing a wide variety of functional groups with an average yield of 60±16 %. This approach is capable of coupling diverse substrates, including pharmaceutical intermediates, to rapidly form complex ketones.     

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.     

Free Carboxylic Acids: The Trend of Radical Decarboxylative Functionalization

The exceptional versatility of carboxylic acids has been extensively exploited in organic synthesis across several decades. There has been a recent upsurge of radical decarboxylative transformations. The process can be initiated under mild conditions, and the resultant radicals have orthogonal reactivities to closed-shell species, thus providing immense opportunities for streamlining novel reactions. The use of free carboxylic acids is the most desirable owing to its high atom and step economy. Aiming to demonstrate the attractiveness of the strategy and to inspire chemists to tackle existing challenges, this review outlines the recent advances on radical decarboxylative functionalization of free carboxylic acids.     

Room‐Temperature Decarboxylative Alkynylation of Carboxylic Acids Using Photoredox Catalysis and EBX Reagents

Alkynes are used as building blocks in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and materials science. Therefore, efficient methods for their synthesis are the subject of intensive research. Herein, we report the direct synthesis of alkynes from readily available carboxylic acids at room temperature under visible‐light irradiation. The combination of an iridium photocatalyst with ethynylbenziodoxolone (EBX) reagents allowed the decarboxylative alkynylation of carboxylic acids in good yields under mild conditions. The method could be applied to silyl‐, aryl‐, and alkyl‐ substituted alkynes. It was particularly successful in the case of α‐amino and α‐oxo acids derived from biomass.