可见光促进下氟烷基砜对芳基烯烃的自由基氟烷基化反应

自由基氟烷基化是向有机分子中引入氟烷基的一类非常重要的方法,也是目前有机化学研究的热点之一.近几年来,由于广泛的官能团兼容性和温和的反应条件等优点,可见光促进的氧化还原催化反应得到了长足的发展,已经成为化学键的构建和活化的有力工具.因此,光氧化还原催化的自由基氟烷基化反应,作为向有机化合物中引入氟烷基的有效途径,受到了广泛关注.本文报道了我们发展的氟烷基砜作为一类方便易得的新型氟烷基自由基前体,在可见光氧化还原催化下实现对烯烃的自由基氟烷基化反应.该反应可以高效地向芳基烯烃中引入三氟甲基、二氟甲基、1,1-二氟乙基、苯基二氟甲基等各种含氟烷基基团,并实现对芳基烯烃的双官能团化转化.     

Hypervalent Iodine Reagents Enable Chemoselective Deboronative/Decarboxylative Alkenylation by Photoredox Catalysis

Chemoselective C(sp³)? C(sp²) coupling reactions under mild reaction conditions are useful for synthesizing alkyl‐substituted alkenes having sensitive functional groups. Reported here is a visible‐light‐induced chemoselective alkenylation through a deboronation/decarboxylation sequence under neutral aqueous reaction conditions at room temperature. This reaction represents the first hypervalent‐iodine‐enabled radical decarboxylative alkenylation reaction, and a novel benziodoxole‐vinyl carboxylic acid reaction intermediate was isolated. This C(sp³)? C(sp²) coupling reaction leads to aryl‐and acyl‐substituted alkenes containing various sensitive functional groups. The excellent chemoselectivity, stable reactants, and neutral aqueous reaction conditions of the reaction suggest future biomolecule applications.     

Photoredox Catalysis Using Heterogenized Iridium Complexes**

Heterogenized photoredox catalysts provide a path for sustainable chemical synthesis using highly tunable, reusable constructs. Here, heterogenized iridium complexes as photoredox catalysts were assembled via covalent attachment to metal oxide surfaces (ITO, ZrO₂, Al₂O₃) in thin film or nanopowder constructs. The goal was to understand which materials provided the most promising constructs for catalysis. To do this, reductive dehalogenation of bromoacetophenone to acetophenone was studied as a test reaction for system optimization. All catalyst constructs produced acetophenone with high conversions and yields with the fastest reactions complete in fifteen minutes using Al₂O₃ supports. The nanopowder catalysts resulted in faster and more efficient catalysis, while the thin film catalysts were more robust and easily reused. Importantly, the thin film constructs show promise for future photoelectrochemical and electrochemical photoredox setups. Finally, all catalysts were reusable 2–3 times, performing at least 1000 turnovers (Al₂O₃), demonstrating that heterogenized catalysts are a sustainable catalyst alternative.     

Oxidative Fluorination of Cyclopropylamides through Organic Photoredox Catalysis

We report an oxidative ring‐opening strategy to transform cyclopropylamides and cyclobutylamides into fluorinated imines. The imines can be isolated in their more stable hemiaminal form, with the fluorine atom installed selectively at the γ or δ position. Both inexpensive benzophenone with UVA light or organic and inorganic dyes with blue light could be used as photoredox catalysts to promote this process. Various fluorinated amines were then obtained by nucleophilic attack on the hemiaminals in one pot, giving access to a broad range of useful building blocks for medicinal chemistry.     

New Radical Borylation Pathways for Organoboron Synthesis Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Radical borylation using N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐BH₃ complexes as boryl radical precursors has emerged as an important synthetic tool for organoboron assembly. However, the majority of reported methods are limited to reaction modes involving carbo‐ and/or hydroboration of specific alkenes and alkynes. Moreover, the generation of NHC‐boryl radicals relies principally on hydrogen atom abstraction with the aid of radical initiators. A distinct radical generation method is reported, as well as the reaction pathways of NHC‐boryl radicals enabled by photoredox catalysis. NHC‐boryl radicals are generated via a single‐electron oxidation and subsequently undergo cross‐coupling with the in‐situ‐generated radical anions to yield gem‐difluoroallylboronates. A photoredox‐catalyzed radical arylboration reaction of alkenes was achieved using cyanoarenes as arylating components from which elaborated organoborons were accessed. Mechanistic studies verified the oxidative formation of NHC‐boryl radicals through a single‐electron‐transfer pathway.     

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Polymers toward Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis

As a promising two‐dimensional conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) has been utilized as a low‐cost, robust, metal‐free, and visible‐light‐active photocatalyst in the field of solar energy conversion. This Review mainly describes the latest advances in g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts for water splitting. Their application in CO₂ conversion, organosynthesis, and environmental purification is also briefly discussed. The methods to modify the electronic structure, nanostructure, crystal structure, and heterostructure of g‐C₃N₄, together with correlations between its structure and performance are illustrated. Perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the future exploration of g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts are provided. This Review will promote the utilization of g‐C₃N₄ materials in the fields of photocatalysis, energy conversion, environmental remediation, and sensors.     

Reductive Amination by Photoredox Catalysis and Polarity‐Matched Hydrogen Atom Transfer

The excitation of a Ru^II photosensitizer in the presence of ascorbic acid leads to the reduction of iminium ions to electron‐rich α‐aminoalkyl radical intermediates, which are rapidly converted into reductive amination products by thiol‐mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). As a result, the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with amines by photoredox catalysis proceeds in good to excellent yields and with broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. The three key features of this work are 1) the rapid interception of electron‐rich α‐aminoalkyl radical intermediates by polarity‐matched HAT in a photoredox reaction, 2) the method of reductive amination by photoredox catalysis itself, and 3) the application of this new method for temporally and spatially controlled reactions on a solid support, as demonstrated by the attachment of a fluorescent dye on an activated cellulose support by photoredox‐catalyzed reductive amination.     

Combined Photoredox and Iron Catalysis for the Cyclotrimerization of Alkynes

Successful combinations of visible‐light photocatalysis with metal catalysis have recently enabled the development of hitherto unknown chemical reactions. Dual mechanisms from merging metal‐free photocatalysts and earth‐abundant metal catalysts are still in their infancy. We report a photo‐organo‐iron‐catalyzed cyclotrimerization of alkynes by photoredox activation of a ligand‐free Fe catalyst. The reaction operates under very mild conditions (visible light, 20 °C, 1 h) with 1–2 mol % loading of the three catalysts (dye, amine, FeCl₂).     

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Unactivated Aryl Fluorides with Primary Aliphatic Amines by Organic Photoredox Catalysis

In this work, a mild and transition-metal-free approach for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) of unactivated fluoroarenes with primary aliphatic amines to form aromatic amines is reported. This reaction is facilitated by the formation of cationic fluoroarene radical intermediates in the presence of an acridinium-based organic photocatalyst under blue-light irradiation. Various electron-rich and electron-neutral fluoroarenes are competent electrophiles for this transformation. A wide range of primary aliphatic amines, including amino acid esters, dipeptides, and linear and branched amines are suitable nucleophiles. The synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of several complex drug molecules.     

Aerobic Photooxidative Synthesis of β‐Alkoxy Monohydroperoxides Using an Organo Photoredox Catalyst Controlled by a Base

Transition‐metal‐free synthesis of β‐alkoxy monohydroperoxides via aerobic photooxidation using an acridinium photocatalyst was developed. This method enables the synthesis of some novel hydroperoxides. The peroxide source is molecular oxygen, which is cost‐effective and atomically efficient. Magnesium oxide plays an important role as a base in the catalytic system.     

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Trifluoromethylthiolation of Styrenes by Dual Photoredox/Halide Catalysis

Herein, we report a new visible‐light‐promoted strategy to access radical trifluoromethylthiolation reactions by combining halide and photoredox catalysis. This approach allows for the synthesis of vinyl–SCF₃ compounds of relevance in pharmaceutical chemistry directly from alkenes under mild conditions with irradiation from household light sources. Furthermore, alkyl–SCF₃‐containing cyclic ketone and oxindole derivatives can be accessed by radical‐polar crossover semi‐pinacol and cyclization processes. Inexpensive halide salts play a crucial role in activating the trifluoromethylthiolating reagent towards photoredox catalysis and aid the formation of the SCF₃ radical.     

Cascade Cross‐Coupling of Dienes: Photoredox and Nickel Dual Catalysis

Chemical transformations based on cascade reactions have the potential to simplify the preparation of diverse and architecturally complex molecules dramatically. Herein, we disclose an unprecedented and efficient method for the cross‐coupling of radical precursors, dienes, and electrophilic coupling partners via a photoredox‐ and nickel‐enabled cascade cross‐coupling process. The cascade reaction furnishes a diverse array of saturated carbo‐ and heterocyclic scaffolds, thus providing access to a quick gain in C?C bond saturation.     

Transition-Metal-Free Multicomponent Reaction of Quinoxalinones with Alkenes and Zhdankin Reagent through Photoredox Catalysis

A photo-induced three-component coupling reaction of quinoxalinones with unactivated alkenes and azidobenziodoxolone (ABX, Zhdankin reagent) was developed. The protocol provides an efficient approach for the synthesis of various bioactive organoazides with quinoxalinone scaffold in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. This reaction is environmentally friendly avoiding the use of expensive transition-metal photocatalysts and stoichiometric oxidants.     

Covalent Triazine Framework Nanoparticles via Size-Controllable Confinement Synthesis for Enhanced Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

For metal-free, organic conjugated polymer-based photocatalysts, synthesis of defined nanostructures is still highly challenging. Here, we report the formation of covalent triazine framework (CTF) nanoparticles via a size-controllable confined polymerization strategy. The uniform CTF nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced activity in the photocatalytic formation of dibenzofurans compared to the irregular bulk material. The optoelectronic properties of the nanometer-sized CTFs could be easily tuned by copolymerizing small amounts of benzothiadiazole into the conjugated molecular network. This optimization of electronic properties led to a further increase in observed photocatalytic efficiency, resulting in total an 18-fold enhancement compared to the bulk material. Full recyclability of the heterogeneous photocatalysts as well as catalytic activity in dehalogenation, hydroxylation and benzoimidazole formation reactions demonstrated the utility of the designed materials.     

Multi‐Photon Excitation in Photoredox Catalysis: Concepts,Applications, Methods

The energy of visible photons and the accessible redox potentials of common photocatalysts set thermodynamic limits to photochemical reactions that can be driven by traditional visible‐light irradiation. UV excitation can be damaging and induce side reactions, hence visible or even near‐IR light is usually preferable. Thus, photochemistry currently faces two divergent challenges, namely the desire to perform ever more thermodynamically demanding reactions with increasingly lower photon energies. The pooling of two low‐energy photons can address both challenges simultaneously, and whilst multi‐photon spectroscopy is well established, synthetic photoredox chemistry has only recently started to exploit multi‐photon processes on the preparative scale. Herein, we have a critical look at currently developed reactions and mechanistic concepts, discuss pertinent experimental methods, and provide an outlook into possible future developments of this rapidly emerging area.     

Metal‐Free Carbonylations by Photoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of benzoates from aryl electrophiles and carbon monoxide is a prime example of a transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbonylation reaction which is widely applied in research and industrial processes. Such reactions proceed in the presence of Pd or Ni catalysts, suitable ligands, and stoichiometric bases. We have developed an alternative procedure that is free of any metal, ligand, and base. The method involves a redox reaction driven by visible light and catalyzed by eosin Y which affords alkyl benzoates from arene diazonium salts, carbon monoxide, and alcohols under mild conditions. Tertiary esters can also be prepared in high yields. DFT calculations and radical trapping experiments support a catalytic photoredox pathway without the requirement for sacrificial redox partners.     

Anti-Markovnikov Hydroazidation of Alkenes by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

The anti-Markovnikov hydroazidation of alkenes has been accomplished under visible-light irradiation by using [Ir(dF(CF₃)ppy)₂(dtbbpy)]PF₆ as the photocatalyst and trimethylsilyl azide as the azidating agent. The reactions were greatly facilitated by water, the beneficial effect of which can be attributed to its participation in the reaction as the hydrogen donor, as indicated by deuterium isotope experiments. The reactions proceed under solvent free conditions in the presence of water. 4-Dimethylaminopyridine also exhibited a beneficial effect on the reactions. The present method enabled hydroazidation of several types of unactivated alkenes with good yields and high regioselectivity.     

Dual Catalysis Sees the Light: Combining Photoredox with Organo‐, Acid,and Transition‐Metal Catalysis

The photoredox activation of organic substrates with visible light is a powerful methodology that generates reactive radical species under very mild conditions. When combined with another catalytic process in a dual catalytic system, novel, visible‐light‐promoted transformations have been realized that do not proceed using either catalyst in isolation. In this minireview, the state of the art in organic reactions mediated by dual catalytic systems merging photoredox activation with organo‐, acid or metal catalysis is discussed.