A Desulfurative Strategy for the Generation of Alkyl Radicals Enabled by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

Abstract

Herein, we present a new desulfurative method for generating primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals through visible-light photoredox catalysis. A process that involves the generation of N-centered radicals from sulfinamide intermediates, followed by subsequent fragmentation, is critical to forming the corresponding alkyl radical species. This strategy has been successfully applied to conjugate addition reactions that features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope (>60 examples), and good functional-group tolerance.

Keywords: alkyl radicals; conjugate addition; desulfuration; photoredox catalysis; radical reactions.