Applications of Electrophotocatalysis in C-H Functionalization of Organic Molecules.

Electrophotocatalysis (EPC) has evolved as a new scientific discipline around the boundary of highly active fields: electrochemistry and photocatalysis. EPC allows us to combine the energy of light and electric potential to activate previously inaccessible compounds via single-electron transfer (SET). Herein, we review the most essential applications of EPC to the C-H functionalization of molecules. This work discusses mechanisms that can be encountered when designing such processes and analyzes technical aspects of performing EPC reactions in the laboratory.

Mechanochemical Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Arylhalides and Organozinc Pivalates.

Cross-coupling reactions are essential tools in target molecule synthesis. However, the use of highly reactive organometallic reagents limits their applicability. Here, we present a mechanochemical Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between aryl halides and organozinc pivalates that can be carried out under ambient temperature and atmosphere. This operationally simple procedure affords a wide range of biaryl and aryl-heteroaryl derivatives in high yields and short times. The reaction tolerates various functional groups and can be realized on a synthetically useful scale. Its practical value was demonstrated in the short synthesis of the pharmaceutical diflunisal.

Diastereoselective Double C-H Functionalization of Chiral Ferrocenes with Heteroaromatics.

Diastereoselective double C-H heteroarylation of chiral ferrocenes provides valuable compounds with multiple functionalities using mild reaction conditions and simple reagents. Pd-Complexes with chiral mono-protected amino acids afforded corresponding heteroarylated ferrocenyl amines in good yields and high diastereomeric purities. In this way, a variety of indole, thiophene, pyrrole, or furan substituents were introduced to the ferrocene moiety. Furthermore, a range of relevant functional groups, for example ketone, ester, chloro, nitro, or silyl, are tolerated by this method. An alternative combination of amino acid and ferrocenyl amine configurations was leveraged to provide the complementary diastereomeric products. The products of C-H heteroarylation can be transformed into corresponding phosphines. Absolute configurations of CH-activation products were confirmed by the combination of X-ray crystallographic analysis and CD spectroscopy. 19 F NMR kinetic study and DFT calculations provided insights into the reaction mechanism and reasons governing stereoinduction.