Direct C−H Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes in Water Enabled by Organic Photoredox-Active Amphiphilic Nanoparticles

Photoredox-catalyzed chemical conversions are predominantly operated in organic media to ensure good compatibility between substrates and catalysts. Yet, when conducted in aqueous media, they are an attractive, mild, and green way to introduce functional groups into organic molecules. We here show that trifluoromethyl groups can be readily installed into a broad range of organic compounds by using water as the reaction medium and light as the energy source. To bypass solubility obstacles, we developed robust water-soluble polymeric nanoparticles that accommodate reagents and photocatalysts within their hydrophobic interior under high local concentrations. By taking advantage of the high excited state reduction potential of N-phenylphenothiazine (PTH) through UV light illumination, the direct C−H trifluoromethylation of a wide array of small organic molecules is achieved selectively with high substrate conversion. Key to our approach is slowing down the production of CF₃ radicals during the chemical process by reducing the catalyst loading as well as the light intensity, thereby improving effectiveness and selectivity of this aqueous photocatalytic method. Furthermore, the catalyst system shows excellent recyclability and can be fueled by sunlight. The method we propose here is versatile, widely applicable, energy efficient, and attractive for late-stage introduction of trifluoromethyl groups into biologically active molecules.     

Recent Advances in Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis for the Thiol-Ene/Yne Reactions

Visible-light photoredox catalysis has been established as a popular and powerful tool for organic transformations owing to its inherent characterization of environmental friendliness and sustainability in the past decades. The thiol-ene/yne reactions, the direct hydrothiolation of alkenes/alkynes with thiols, represents one of the most efficient and atom-economic approaches for the carbon-sulfur bonds construction. In traditional methodologies, harsh conditions such as stoichiometric reagents or a specialized UV photo-apparatus were necessary suffering from various disadvantages. In particular, visible-light photoredox catalysis has also been demonstrated to be a greener and milder protocol for the thiol-ene/yne reactions in recent years. Additionally, unprecedented advancements have been achieved in this area during the past decade. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in visible-light photoredox catalyzed thiol-ene/yne reactions from 2015 to 2021. Synthetic strategies, substrate scope, and proposed reaction pathways are mainly discussed.     

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.     

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.     

Direct Arylation of N‐Heteroarenes with Aryldiazonium Salts by Photoredox Catalysis in Water

A highly effective visible light‐promoted “radical‐type” coupling of N‐heteroarenes with aryldiazonium salts in water has been developed. The reaction proceeds at room temperature with [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂ ? 6 H₂O as a photosensitizer and a commercial household light bulb as a light source. Pyridine and a variety of substituted pyridines are effective substrates under these reaction conditions, and only monosubstituted products are formed with different regioselectivities. Using aqueous formic acid as solvent, an array of xanthenes, thiazole, pyrazine, and pyridazine are compatible with this new arylation approach. The broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and use of water as reaction solvent make this procedure a practical and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of compounds containing aryl‐heteroaryl motifs.     

Photoredox-Catalyzed Reduction of Halogenated Arenes in Water by Amphiphilic Polymeric Nanoparticles

The use of organic photoredox catalysts provides new ways to perform metal-free reactions controlled by light. While these reactions are usually performed in organic media, the application of these catalysts at ambient temperatures in aqueous media is of considerable interest. We here compare the activity of two established organic photoredox catalysts, one based on 10-phenylphenothiazine (PTH) and one based on an acridinium dye (ACR), in the light-activated dehalogenation of aromatic halides in pure water. Both PTH and ACR were covalently attached to amphiphilic polymers that are designed to form polymeric nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameter D_H ranging between 5 and 11 nm in aqueous solution. Due to the hydrophobic side groups that furnish the interior of these nanoparticles after hydrophobic collapse, water-insoluble reagents can gather within the nanoparticles at high local catalyst and substrate concentrations. We evaluated six different amphiphilic polymeric nanoparticles to assess the effect of polymer length, catalyst loading and nature of the catalyst (PTH or ACR) in the dechlorination of a range of aromatic chlorides. In addition, we investigate the selectivity of both catalysts for reducing different types of aryl-halogen bonds present in one molecule, as well as the activity of the catalysts for C-C cross-coupling reactions. We find that all polymer-based catalysts show high activity for the reduction of electron-poor aromatic compounds. For electron-rich compounds, the ACR-based catalyst is more effective than PTH. In the selective dehalogenation reactions, the order of bond stability is C-Cl > C-Br > C-I irrespective of the catalyst applied. All in all, both water-compatible systems show good activity in water, with ACR-based catalysts being slightly more efficient for more resilient substrates.     

General Paradigm in Photoredox Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Allows for Light-Free Access to Reactivity

Self-sustained Ni^I/III cycles are established as a potentially general paradigm in photoredox Ni-catalyzed carbon–heteroatom cross-coupling reactions through a strategy that allows us to recapitulate photoredox-like reactivity in the absence of light across a wide range of substrates in the amination, etherification, and esterification of aryl bromides, the latter of which has remained, hitherto, elusive under thermal Ni catalysis. Moreover, the accessibility of esterification in the absence of light is especially notable because previous mechanistic studies on this transformation under photoredox conditions have unanimously invoked energy-transfer-mediated pathways.     

Tandem Photoredox Catalysis: Enabling Carbonylative Amidation of Aryl and Alkylhalides

We report a new visible-light-mediated carbonylative amidation of aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl halides. A tandem catalytic cycle of [Ir(ppy)₂(dtb-bpy)]⁺ generates a potent iridium photoreductant through a second catalytic cycle in the presence of DIPEA, which productively engages aryl bromides, iodides, and even chlorides as well as primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl iodides. The versatile in situ generated catalyst is compatible with aliphatic and aromatic amines, shows high functional-group tolerance, and enables the late-stage amidation of complex natural products.     

可见光促进的光氧化还原催化的三氟甲基化反应

全氟烷基化反应,特别是三氟甲基化反应一直是有机化学领域的研究热点。近几年来,可见光促进的光氧化还原催化的有机化学反应,因其本身所固有的条件温和、绿色和环保等优点而倍受合成化学家的青睐。该方法学也被成功地应用于一系列三氟甲基化反应。本文主要按照三氟甲基源分类,总结了近年来可见光促进的光氧化还原催化的三氟甲基化反应的研究进展,并对其发展趋势进行了展望。     

General Paradigm in Photoredox Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Allows for Light‐Free Access to Reactivity

Self‐sustained Ni^I/III cycles are established as a potentially general paradigm in photoredox Ni‐catalyzed carbon–heteroatom cross‐coupling reactions through a strategy that allows us to recapitulate photoredox‐like reactivity in the absence of light across a wide range of substrates in the amination, etherification, and esterification of aryl bromides, the latter of which has remained, hitherto, elusive under thermal Ni catalysis. Moreover, the accessibility of esterification in the absence of light is especially notable because previous mechanistic studies on this transformation under photoredox conditions have unanimously invoked energy‐transfer‐mediated pathways.     

Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis Using Ruthenium Complexes in Chemical Biology

The development of bioorthogonal reactions have had a transformative impact in chemical biology and the quest to expand this toolbox continues. Herein we review recent applications of ruthenium-catalyzed photoredox reactions used in chemical biology.     

可见光促进的氧化还原催化反应在天然产物全合成中的应用

可见光促进的光氧化还原催化在近年来取得了重要进展, 许多可见光光氧化还原的反应被用于复杂分子的构建. 本文概述了这一领域的最新成果, 重点介绍该策略作为关键步骤在天然产物及类天然产物化合物的全合成中的应用.     

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.     

Perylene-Grafted Silicas: Mechanistic Study and Applications in Heterogeneous Photoredox Catalysis

A mechanistic study is herein presented for the use of heterogeneous photocatalysts based on perylene moieties. First, the successful immobilization of perylene diimides (PDI) on silica matrices is demonstrated, including their full characterization by means of electronic microscopy, surface area measurements, powder XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, and FTIR, ²⁹Si and ¹³C solid-state NMR, fluorescence, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. Then, the photoredox activity of the material was tested by using two model reactions, alkene oxidation and 4-nitrobenzylbromide reduction, and mechanistic studies were performed. The mechanistic insights into their photoredox activity show they have promising dual photocatalytic activity for both organic oxidations and reductions.     

Synthesis of Non‐Classical Arylated C‐Saccharides through Nickel/Photoredox Dual Catalysis

The development of synthetic tools to introduce saccharide derivatives into functionally complex molecules is of great interest, particularly in the field of drug discovery. Herein, we report a new route toward highly functionalized, arylated saccharides, which involves nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of photoredox‐generated saccharyl radicals with a range of aryl‐ and heteroaryl bromides, triggered by an organic photocatalyst. In contrast to existing methods, the mild reaction conditions achieve arylation of saccharide motifs while leaving the anomeric carbon available, thus providing access to a class of arylated glycosides that has been underexplored until now. To demonstrate the potential of this strategy in late‐stage functionalization, a variety of structurally complex molecules incorporating saccharide moieties were synthesized.     

Late‐Stage Functionalization of Biologically Active Heterocycles Through Photoredox Catalysis

The direct C? H functionalization of heterocycles has become an increasingly valuable tool in modern drug discovery. However, the introduction of small alkyl groups, such as methyl, by this method has not been realized in the context of complex molecule synthesis since existing methods rely on the use of strong oxidants and elevated temperatures to generate the requisite radical species. Herein, we report the use of stable organic peroxides activated by visible‐light photoredox catalysis to achieve the direct methyl‐, ethyl‐, and cyclopropylation of a variety of biologically active heterocycles. The simple protocol, mild reaction conditions, and unique tolerability of this method make it an important tool for drug discovery.     

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.     

结合可见光促进氧化还原和镍催化的碳碳键合成进展

结合可见光促进氧化还原和镍催化的碳碳键合成研究,是对过渡金属催化的交叉偶联反应的重要补充,具有广阔的发展空间和应用前景,是近年来有机光化学合成的前沿热点领域之一。本文依据反应设计的模式划分,小结目前该领域的研究进展。