Photoredox-Catalyzed Multicomponent Petasis Reaction with Alkyltrifluoroborates.

A redox-neutral alkyl Petasis reaction has been developed that proceeds via photoredox catalysis. A diverse set of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyltrifluoroborates participate effectively in this reaction through a single-electron transfer mechanism, in contrast to the traditional two-electron Petasis reaction, which accommodates only unsaturated boronic acids. This protocol is ideal to diversify benzyl-type and glyoxalate-derived aldehydes, anilines, and alkyltrifluoroborates toward the rapid assembly of libraries of higher molecular complexity important in pharmaceutical and agrochemical settings.

Photoredox/Nickel-Catalyzed Single-Electron Tsuji-Trost Reaction: Development and Mechanistic Insights.

A regioselective, nickel-catalyzed photoredox allylation of secondary, benzyl, and α-alkoxy radical precursors is disclosed. Through this manifold, a variety of linear allylic alcohols and allylated monosaccharides are accessible in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Quantum mechanical calculations [DFT and DLPNO-CCSD(T)] support the mechanistic hypothesis of a Ni0 to NiII oxidative addition pathway followed by radical addition and inner-sphere allylation.

Photoredox-catalyzed Direct Reductive Amination of Aldehydes without an External Hydrogen/Hydride Source.

The direct reductive amination of aromatic aldehydes has been realized using a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. The single electron oxidation of an in situ formed aminal species generates the putative α-amino radical that eventually delivers the reductive amination product. This method is operationally simple, highly selective, and functional group tolerant, which allows the direct synthesis of benzylic amines by a unique mechanistic pathway.

Direct Synthesis of Secondary Benzylic Alcohols Enabled by Photoredox/Ni Dual-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling.

An operationally simple, mild, redox-neutral method for the cross-coupling of α-hydroxyalkyltrifluoroborates is reported. Utilizing an Ir photocatalyst, α-hydroxyalkyl radicals are generated from the single-electron oxidation of the trifluoroborates, and these radicals are subsequently engaged in a nickel-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reaction with aryl halides. The process is highly selective, functional group tolerant, and step economical, which allows the direct synthesis of secondary benzylic alcohol motifs.

Synergistic Visible-Light Photoredox/Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of Aliphatic Ketones via N-C Cleavage of Imides.

An electrophilic, imide-based, visible-light-promoted photoredox/Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction for the synthesis of aliphatic ketones has been developed. This protocol proceeds through N-C(O) bond activation, made possible through the lower activation energy for metal insertion into this bond due to delocalization of the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen by electron-withdrawing groups. The operationally simple and mild cross-coupling reaction is performed at ambient temperature and exhibits tolerance for a variety of functional groups.

Catalytic Asymmetric Allylboration of Indoles and Dihydroisoquinolines with Allylboronic Acids: Stereodivergent Synthesis of up to Three Contiguous Stereocenters.

The catalytic asymmetric allylboration of cyclic imines with γ,γ-disubstituted allylboronic acids provides products with adjacent stereocenters in high yield and stereoselectivity. Various electrophiles, including 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and indoles, were prenylated in a fully stereodivergent fashion by switching the E/Z geometry of the allylboronate and/or the enantiomer of the BINOL catalyst. 3-Methylindole provided products with three adjacent stereocenters with high stereoselectivity in one synthetic operation.

Transition-Metal-Free Borylation of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols.

The base-catalyzed allylic borylation of tertiary allylic alcohols allows the synthesis of 1,1-disubstituted allyl boronates, in moderate to high yield. The unexpected tandem performance of the Lewis acid-base adduct, [Hbase](+) [MeO-B2 pin2 ](-) favored the formation of 1,2,3-triborylated species from the tertiary allylic alcohols and 1-propargylic cyclohexanol at 90 °C.

Synthesis of Adjacent Quaternary Stereocenters by Catalytic Asymmetric Allylboration.

Allylboration of ketones with γ-disubstituted allylboronic acids is performed in the presence of chiral BINOL derivatives. The reaction is suitable for single-step creation of adjacent quaternary stereocenters with high selectivity. We show that, with an appropriate choice of the chiral catalyst and the stereoisomeric prenyl substrate, full control of the stereo- and enantioselectivity is possible in the reaction.

Stereocontrol in synthesis of homoallylic amines. Syn selective direct allylation of hydrazones with allylboronic acids.

Allylboronic acids directly react with acyl hydrazones, affording homoallylic amine derivatives. The reaction proceeds with very high syn selectivity, which is the opposite of the stereochemistry observed for allylboration of imines. The reaction can be carried out with both aromatic and aliphatic acyl hydrazones. Based on our studies the excellent syn stereochemistry can be explained by chelation control of the acyl hydrazone and the B(OH)(2) moiety.

Selective formation of adjacent stereocenters by allylboration of ketones under mild neutral conditions.

Allylboronic acids readily react with a broad variety of ketones, affording homoallylic alcohols with adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereocenters. The reaction proceeds with very high anti stereoselectivity even if the substituents of the keto group have a similar size. α-Keto acids react with syn stereoselectivity probably due to the formation of acyl boronate intermediates. The allylation reactions proceed without added acids/bases under mild conditions. Because of this, many functionalities are tolerated even with in situ generated allylboronic acids.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis and isolation of functionalized allylboronic acids: selective, direct allylboration of ketones.

Textbook revision: allylboronic acids, which are easily prepared from allylic alcohols, react readily and selectively with ketones without Lewis acid catalysts.

Stereoselective intermolecular allylic C-H trifluoroacetoxylation of functionalized alkenes.

Pd-catalyzed allylic C-H trifluoroacetoxylation of substituted alkenes was performed using PhI(OCOCF(3))(2) as the oxidant and acyloxy source. Trifluoroacetoxylation of monosubstituted cyclopentenes and cyclohexenes proceeds with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. Studies with one of the possible (η(3)-allyl)Pd(II) intermediates suggest that the reaction proceeds via stereoselective formation of Pd(IV) intermediates and subsequent stereo- and regioselective reductive elimination of the product.