Visible-light-mediated deoxygenative transformation of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds through energy transfer process

Nat Commun. 2024 Oct 25;15(1):9240. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53635-1.

Abstract

Through the energy transfer process, mild transformations can be achieved that are often difficult to realize under thermodynamic conditions. Herein, a visible-light-driven deoxygenative coupling of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds for C-O, C-S, and C-N bonds construction is developed via triplet state 1,2-dicarbonyls, affording a wide range of α-functionalized ketones/esters under transition-metal and external photocatalyst free conditions. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated by gram-scale synthesis, late-stage functionalization of various carboxylic acid drugs, and the synthesis of natural products and drug molecules.