2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl
(TEMPO) has
been extensively utilized as a radical scavenger or an oxidation catalyst.
In contrast, TEMPO as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst has
rarely been studied. Here, we report that TEMPO, as the HAT catalyst,
homolytically cleaves benzylic or allylic C–H bonds to give
the corresponding alkyl radicals. Benefiting from the dual roles played
by TEMPO as the HAT catalyst and the radical scavenger, the highly
challenging aerobic dehydrogenation of activated alkanes to alkenes
is successfully developed.
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