Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Oxycarbonyl Motifs by Conjugate Addition of Photogenerated α-Alkoxy Radicals

Org Lett. 2021 Aug 6;23(15):5703-5708. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c01790. Epub 2021 Jul 23.

Abstract

Enantioselective catalytic Giese addition of photogenerated α-alkoxy radicals to acyl pyrazolidinones can be accomplished using a tandem Sc(III) Lewis acid/photoredox catalyst system. Surprisingly, the excited-state oxidation potential was not the only important variable, and the optimal photocatalyst was not the strongest oxidant screened. Our results show that both the oxidation and reduction potentials of the photocatalyst can be important for the reaction outcome, highlighting the importance of holistic considerations in designing photochemical reactions.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Lewis Acids
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Lewis Acids
  • alkoxyl radical