Issue 11, 2011

Photocatalytic reductive cyclizations of enones: Divergent reactivity of photogenerated radical and radical anion intermediates

Abstract

Photocatalytic reactions of enones using metal polypyridyl complexes proceed by very different reaction manifolds in the presence of either Lewis or Brønsted acid additives. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that photocatalytic [2 + 2] cycloadditions of enones required the presence of a Lewis acidic co-catalyst, presumably to activate the enone and stabilize the key radical anion intermediate. On the other hand, Brønsted acid activators alter this reactivity and instead promote reductive cyclization reactions of a variety of aryl and aliphatic enonesvia a neutral radical intermediate. These two distinct reactive intermediates give rise to transformations differing in the connectivity, stereochemistry, and oxidation state of their products. In addition, this reductive coupling method introduces a novel approach to the tin-free generation of β-ketoradicals that react with high diastereoselectivity and with the high functional group compatibility typical of radical cyclization reactions.

Graphical abstract: Photocatalytic reductive cyclizations of enones: Divergent reactivity of photogenerated radical and radical anion intermediates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
12 Jun 2011
Accepted
01 Aug 2011
First published
23 Aug 2011

Chem. Sci., 2011,2, 2115-2119

Photocatalytic reductive cyclizations of enones: Divergent reactivity of photogenerated radical and radical anion intermediates

J. Du, L. R. Espelt, I. A. Guzei and T. P. Yoon, Chem. Sci., 2011, 2, 2115 DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00357G

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