The association of an electron-rich substrate with an electron-accepting molecule can generate a new molecular aggregate in the ground state, called an electron donor−acceptor (EDA) complex. Even when the two precursors do not absorb visible light, the resulting EDA complex often does. In 1952, Mulliken proposed a quantum-mechanical theory to rationalize the formation of such colored EDA complexes. However, and besides a few pioneering studies in the 20th century, it is only in the past few years that the EDA complex photochemistry has been recognized as a powerful strategy for expanding the potential of visiblelight-driven radical synthetic chemistry. Here, we explain why this photochemical synthetic approach was overlooked for so long. We critically discuss the historical context, scientific reasons, serendipitous observations, and landmark discoveries that were essential for progress in the field. We also outline future directions and identify the key advances that are needed to fully exploit the potential of the EDA complex photochemistry.
Reported
herein is a photochemical strategy for the borylation
of alkyl halides using bis(catecholato)diboron as the boron source.
This method exploits the ability of a nucleophilic dithiocarbonyl
anion organocatalyst to generate radicals via an SN2-based
photochemical catalytic mechanism, which is not reliant on the redox
properties of the substrates. Therefore, it grants access to alkyl
boronic esters from readily available but difficult-to-reduce electrophiles,
including benzylic and allylic chlorides, bromides, and mesylates,
which were inert to or unsuitable for previously reported metal-free
borylation protocols.
Herein, we report a photocatalytic procedure that enables the acylation/arylation of unfunctionalized alkyl derivatives in flow. The method exploits the ability of the decatungstate anion to act as a hydrogen atom abstractor and produce nucleophilic carbon‐centered radicals that are intercepted by a nickel catalyst to ultimately forge C(sp3)−C(sp2) bonds. Owing to the intensified conditions in flow, the reaction time can be reduced from 12–48 hours to only 5–15 minutes. Finally, kinetic measurements highlight how the intensified conditions do not change the reaction mechanism but reliably speed up the overall process.
Reported herein is a visible-light-mediated organocatalytic direct C-H functionalization of toluene derivatives to afford enantioenriched β-benzylated aldehydes from the corresponding enals. The process combines the oxidative power of a chiral excited-state iminium ion and the basic nature of its counteranion to trigger the generation of benzylic radicals by means of a sequential multisite proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism. This study shows that feedstock chemicals generally used as solvents, such as toluene and xylene derivatives, can be used as substrates for making chiral molecules with high enantioselectivity.
An organic catalyst uses low-energy photons to generate acyl and carbamoyl radicals upon activation of the corresponding chlorides via a nucleophilic acyl substitution path. The synthetic potential and the mechanism of this strategy are discussed.
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