Reactions that lead to destruction of aromatic ring systems often require harsh conditions and, thus, take place with poor selectivities. Selective partial dearomatization of fused arenes is even more challenging but can be a strategic approach to creating versatile, complex polycyclic frameworks. Herein we describe a general organophotoredox approach for the chemo- and regioselective dearomatization of structurally diverse polycyclic aromatics, including quinolines, isoquinolines, quinoxalines, naphthalenes, anthracenes and phenanthrenes. The success of the method for chemoselective oxidative rupture of aromatic moieties relies on precise manipulation of the electronic nature of the fused polycyclic arenes. Mechanistic studies show that the addition of a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) agent helps favor the dearomatization pathway over the more thermodynamically downhill aromatization pathway. We show that this strategy can be applied to rapid synthesis of biologically valued targets and late-stage skeletal remodeling en route to complex structures.
Most known methods to access δ-lactams with stereogenic centers at the α- and β-positions are highly selective for the contra-thermodynamic syn diastereomer, typically via hydrogenation of the corresponding pyridinones or quinolinones. We describe here the development of a photoredox-mediated hydrogen atom transfer approach for the epimerization of δ-lactams to access the more stable anti diastereomers from the contra-thermodynamic syn isomers. The reaction displays broad functional group compatibility, including acid, ester, 1°, 2°, and 3° amide, carbamate, and pyridyl groups, and was effective for a range of differently substituted monocyclic and bicyclic lactams. Experimentally observed diastereoselectivities are consistent with the calculated relative stabilities of lactam diastereomers. Convergence to the same diastereomer ratio from the syn- and anti-diastereomers establishes that reversible epimerization provides an equilibrium mixture of diastereomers. Additionally, deuterium labeling and luminescence quenching studies shed further light on the mechanism of the reaction.
Reactions that lead to destruction of aromatic ring systems often require harsh conditions and, thus, take place with poor selectivities. Selective partial dearomatization of fused arenes is even more challenging but it can be a strategic approach to creating versatile, complex polycyclic frameworks. Herein we describe a general organophotoredox approach for the chemo- and regioselective dearomatization of structurally diverse polycyclic aromatics, including quinolines, isoquinolines, quinoxalines, naphthalenes, anthracenes and phenanthrenes. The success of the new method for chemoselective oxidative rupture of aromatic moieties relies on precise manipulation of the electronic nature of the fused polycyclic arenes. Experimental and computational results show that the key to overcoming the intrinsic thermodynamic and kinetic unfavorability of the dearomatization process is an ultimate hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) step, which enables dearomatization to predominate over the otherwise favorable aromatization pathway. We show that this strategy can be applied to rapid synthesis of biologically valued targets and late-stage skeletal remodeling en route to complex structures.
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