A Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Strategy to the Redox-Neutral Photocatalytic CO2 Fixation.

Herein, we report our study on the design and development of a novel photocarboxylation method. We have used an organic photoredox catalyst (PC, 4CzIPN) and differently substituted dihydropyridines (DHPs) in combination with an organic base (1,5,7-triazabicyclodec-5-ene, TBD) to access a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) based manifold. In depth mechanistic investigations merging experimental analysis (NMR, IR, cyclic voltammetry) and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the key activity of a H-bonding complex between the DHP and the base. The thermodynamic and kinetic benefits of the PCET mechanism allowed the implementation of a redox-neutral fixation process leading to synthetically relevant carboxylic acids (18 examples with isolated yields up to 75%) under very mild reaction conditions. Finally, diverse product manipulations were performed to demonstrate the synthetic versatility of the obtained products.

A Rational Approach to Organo-Photocatalysis: Novel Designs and Structure-Property Relationships.

Organic photocatalysts are emerging as viable and more sustainable tools than metal complexes. Recently, the field of organo-photocatalysis has experienced an explosion in terms of applications, redesign of well-established systems, and identification of novel scaffolds. A rational approach to the structural modification of the different photocatalysts is key to accessing unprecedented reactivity, while improving their catalytic performances. We herein discuss the concepts underpinning the scaffold modification of some of the most recently used photocatalysts and analyze how specific structural changes alter their physicochemical and redox properties.

Naphthochromenones: Organic Bimodal Photocatalysts Engaging in Both Oxidative and Reductive Quenching Processes.

Twelve naphthochromenone photocatalysts (PCs) were synthesized on gram scale. They absorb across the UV/Vis range and feature an extremely wide redox window (up to 3.22 eV) that is accessible using simple visible light irradiation sources (CFL or LED). Their excited-state redox potentials, PC*/PC.- (up to 1.65 V) and PC.+ /PC* (up to -1.77 V vs. SCE), are such that these novel PCs can engage in both oxidative and reductive quenching mechanisms with strong thermodynamic requirements. The potential of these bimodal PCs was benchmarked in synthetically relevant photocatalytic processes with extreme thermodynamic requirements. Their ability to efficiently catalyze mechanistically opposite oxidative/reductive photoreactions is a unique feature of these organic photocatalysts, thus representing a decisive advance towards generality, sustainability, and cost efficiency in photocatalysis.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds by Photochemical Organocatalytic Acyl Radical Addition to Enals.

We report a visible-light-mediated organocatalytic strategy for the enantioselective acyl radical conjugate addition to enals, leading to valuable 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. The process capitalizes upon the excited-state reactivity of 4-acyl-1,4-dihydropyridines that, upon visible-light absorption, can trigger the generation of acyl radicals. By means of a chiral amine catalyst, iminium ion activation of enals ensures a stereoselective radical trap. We also demonstrate how the combination of this acylation process with a second catalyst-controlled bond-forming event allows to selectively access the full matrix of all possible stereoisomers of the resulting 2,3-substituted 1,4-dicarbonyl products.

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Diels-Alder Trapping of Photochemically Generated Hydroxy-o-Quinodimethanes.

The photoenolization/Diels-Alder strategy offers straightforward access to synthetically valuable benzannulated carbocyclic products. This historical light-triggered process has never before succumbed to efforts to develop an enantioselective catalytic approach. Herein, we demonstrate how asymmetric organocatalysis provides simple yet effective catalytic tools to intercept photochemically generated hydroxy-o-quinodimethanes with high stereoselectivity. We used a chiral organic catalyst, derived from natural cinchona alkaloids, to activate maleimides toward highly stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions. An unconventional mechanism of stereocontrol is operative, wherein the organocatalyst is actively involved in both the photochemical pathway, by leveraging the formation of the reactive photoenol, and the stereoselectivity-defining event.

Modern Photocatalytic Strategies in Natural Product Synthesis.

Modern photocatalysis has proven its generality for the development and functionalization of native functionalities. To date, the field has found broad applications in diverse research areas, including the total synthesis of natural products. This contribution covers recent reports of total syntheses involving as a key step a photocatalytic reaction. Among the selected examples, the photocatalytic processes proceed in a highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective manner, thereby allowing the rapid access to structurally complex architectures under light-driven conditions.

Unveiling the impact of the light-source and steric factors on [2+2] heterocycloaddition reactions.

Information gained from in-depth mechanistic investigations can be used to control the selectivity of reactions, leading to the expansion of the generality of synthetic processes and the discovery of new reactivity. Here, we investigate the mechanism of light-driven [2+2] heterocycloadditions (Paternò-Büchi reactions) between indoles and ketones to develop insight into these processes. Using ground-state UV-Vis absorption and transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), together with DFT calculations, we found that the reactions can proceed via an exciplex or electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complex, which are key intermediates in determining the stereoselectivity of the reactions. We used this discovery to control the diastereoselectivity of the reactions, gaining access to previously inaccessible diastereoisomeric variants. When moving from 370 to 456 nm irradiation, the EDA complex is increasingly favoured, and the diastereomeric ratio (d.r.) of the product moves from >99:<1 to 47:53. In contrast, switching from methyl to ipropyl substitution favours the exciplex intermediate, reversing the d.r. from 89:11 to 16:84. Our study shows how light and steric parameters can be rationally used to control the diastereoselectivity of photoreactions, creating mechanistic pathways to previously inaccessible stereochemical variants.

Direct enzymatic route for the preparation of novel enantiomerically enriched hydroxylated beta-amino ester stereoisomers.

Enantiomerically enriched hydroxy-substituted beta-amino esters have been synthesized through CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis in organic media. Moderate to good enantiomeric excess values (ee > or = 52%) were obtained when the CAL-B-catalyzed reactions were performed in t-BuOMe, at 60 degrees C with 0.5 equiv. of added H(2)O as nucleophile.

A visible-light Paternò-Büchi dearomatisation process towards the construction of oxeto-indolinic polycycles.

A variety of highly functionalised N-containing polycycles (35 examples) are synthesised from simple indoles and aromatic ketones through a mild visible-light Paternò-Büchi process. Tetrahydrooxeto[2,3-b]indole scaffolds, with up to three contiguous all-substituted stereocenters, are generated in high yield (up to >98%) and excellent site- regio- and diastereocontrol (>20 : 1). The use of visible light (405 or 465 nm) ensures enhanced performances by switching off undesired photodimerisation side reactions. The reaction can be easily implemented using a microfluidic photoreactor with improved productivity (up to 0.176 mmol h-1) and generality. Mechanistic investigations revealed that two alternative reaction mechanisms can account for the excellent regio- and diastereocontrol observed.

Enantiopure 1,2,3-triazolyl-ß-amino acids via click cycloaddition reaction on racemic alkynyl precursors followed by separation of stereoisomers.

In recent years, peptidomimetics have gained enormous importance in drug design aiming to achieve increased drug metabolic stability and higher selectivity. In the field of peptidomimetics, ß-peptides incorporating ß2- and ß3-amino acids (the higher homologs of natural α-amino acids) provide a powerful method for the synthesis of peptidomimetics with particular secondary structures. In this regard, 1,2,3-triazole-modified peptidomimetics can act as effective peptide surrogates, and therefore have gained considerable attention. In the present report, 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles attached to ß-amino acids were prepared selectively from the corresponding alkynyl-ß2-amino acids according to Huisgen's copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC), under mild conditions and with very high efficiency. Different azide derivatives, including some incorporating α-amino acids, were employed in this cycloaddition reaction. The enantiopure compounds were obtained via diastereomeric salt formation with chiral adjuvants, and subsequent separation.