Visible-light photoredox catalysis enables the vinylation and allylation of electrophilic radicals with readily available potassium trifluoroborate reagents. The processes show good functional group compatibility, and mechanistic and computational studies have elucidated some of the aspects associated with the key radical addition step.Keywords: allylation; electrochemistry; photoredox; trifluoroborate; vinylation;

AbstractArylamines constitute the core structure of many therapeutic agents, agrochemicals, and organic materials. The development of methods for the efficient and selective construction of these structural motifs from simple building blocks is desirable but still challenging. We demonstrate that protonated electron-poor O-aryl hydroxylamines give aminium radicals in the presence of Ru(bpy)3Cl2. These highly electrophilic species undergo polarized radical addition to aromatic compounds in high yield and selectivity. We successfully applied this method to the late-stage modification of chiral catalyst templates, therapeutic agents, and natural products.

AbstractShown herein is that polyfunctionalized nitrogen heterocycles can be easily prepared by a visible-light-mediated radical cascade process. This divergent strategy features the oxidative generation of iminyl radicals and subsequent cyclization/radical trapping, which allows the effective construction of highly functionalized heterocycles. The reactions proceed efficiently at room temperature, utilize an organic photocatalyst, use simple and readily available materials, and generate, in a single step, valuable building blocks that would be difficult to prepare by other methods.

AbstractArylamines constitute the core structure of many therapeutic agents, agrochemicals, and organic materials. The development of methods for the efficient and selective construction of these structural motifs from simple building blocks is desirable but still challenging. We demonstrate that protonated electron-poor O-aryl hydroxylamines give aminium radicals in the presence of Ru(bpy)3Cl2. These highly electrophilic species undergo polarized radical addition to aromatic compounds in high yield and selectivity. We successfully applied this method to the late-stage modification of chiral catalyst templates, therapeutic agents, and natural products.

A visible-light-mediated synthesis of 5-methylene-pyrrolidinones is reported. This constitutes to the first reported example of a 5-exo-dig hydroamination reaction involving a nitrogen-centered radical.

The stereospecific cross-coupling of secondary boronic esters with sp2 electrophiles (Suzuki–Miyaura reaction) is a long-standing problem in synthesis, but progress has been achieved in specific cases using palladium catalysis. However, related couplings with tertiary boronic esters are not currently achievable. To address this general problem, we have focused on an alternative method exploiting the reactivity of a boronate complex formed between an aryl lithium and a boronic ester. We reasoned that subsequent addition of an oxidant or an electrophile would remove an electron from the aromatic ring or react in a Friedel–Crafts-type manner, respectively, generating a cationic species, which would trigger 1,2-migration of the boron substituent, creating the new C–C bond. Elimination (preceded by further oxidation in the former case) would result in rearomatization giving the coupled product stereospecifically. Initial work was examined with 2-furyllithium. Although the oxidants tested were unsuccessful, electrophiles, particularly NBS, enabled the coupling reaction to occur in good yield with a broad range of secondary and tertiary boronic esters, bearing different steric demands and functional groups (esters, azides, nitriles, alcohols, and ethers). The reaction also worked well with other electron-rich heteroaromatics and 6-membered ring aromatics provided they had donor groups in the meta position. Conditions were also found under which the B(pin)- moiety could be retained in the product, ortho to the boron substituent. This protocol, which created a new C(sp2)–C(sp3) and an adjacent C–B bond, was again applicable to a range of secondary and tertiary boronic esters. In all cases, the coupling reaction occurred with complete stereospecificity. Computational studies verified the competing processes involved and were in close agreement with the experimental observations.

The development of photoredox reactions of aryloxy-amides for the generation of amidyl radicals and their use in hydroamination–cyclization and N-arylation reactions is reported. Owing to the ease of single-electron-transfer reduction of the aryloxy-amides, the organic dye eosin Y was used as the photoredox catalyst, which results in fully transition-metal-free processes. These transformations exhibit a broad scope, are tolerant to several important functionalities, and have been used in the late-stage modification of complex and high-value N-containing molecules.

The first calcium-catalysed Nazarov cyclisation is described. The Ca(NTf2)(PF6) complex is found to be a very active catalyst for 4π electrocyclisations. The remarkable catalytic activity of this complex is attributed to its increased Lewis acidity compared to other Ca complexes. Spectroscopic studies have provided an insight into the chelating interactions between the substrate and the Ca catalyst.

The first calcium-catalysed Nazarov cyclisation is described. The Ca(NTf2)(PF6) complex is found to be a very active catalyst for 4π electrocyclisations. The remarkable catalytic activity of this complex is attributed to its increased Lewis acidity compared to other Ca complexes. Spectroscopic studies have provided an insight into the chelating interactions between the substrate and the Ca catalyst.

Visible-light photoredox catalysis enables the synthesis of biologically relevant isoxazolines and isoxazoles from hydroxyimino acids. The process shows broad functional group compatibility and mechanistic and computational studies support a visible-light-mediated generation of nitrile oxides by two sequential oxidative single electron transfer processes.