Intermolecular Reductive Couplings of Arylidene Malonates via Lewis Acid/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis

Org Lett. 2018 Nov 2;20(21):6877-6881. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b02893. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Abstract

A cooperative Lewis acid/photocatalytic reduction of arylidene malonates yields a versatile radical anion species. This intermediate preferentially undergoes intermolecular radical-radical coupling reactions, and not the conjugate addition-dimerization reactivity typically observed in the single-electron reduction of conjugate acceptors. Reported here is the development of this open-shell species in intermolecular radical-radical cross couplings, radical dimerizations, and transfer hydrogenations. This reactivity underscores the enabling modularity of cooperative catalysis and demonstrates the utility of stabilized enoate-derived radical anions in intermolecular bond forming reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't