Identification of a Self-Photosensitizing Hydrogen Atom Transfer Organocatalyst System

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Apr 13;144(14):6566-6574. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c01705. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Abstract

We developed organocatalyst systems to promote the cleavage of stable C-H bonds, such as formyl, α-hydroxy, and benzylic C-H bonds, through a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process without the use of exogenous photosensitizers. An electronically tuned thiophosphoric acid, 7,7'-OMe-TPA, was assembled with substrate or co-catalyst N-heteroaromatics through hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions to form electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes. Photoirradiation of the EDA complex induced stepwise, sequential single-electron transfer (SET) processes to generate a HAT-active thiyl radical. The first SET was from the electron-rich naphthyl group of 7,7'-OMe-TPA to the protonated N-heteroaromatics and the second proton-coupled SET (PCET) from the thiophosphoric acid moiety of 7,7'-OMe-TPA to the resulting naphthyl radical cation. Spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations characterized the stepwise SET process mediated by short-lived intermediates. This organocatalytic HAT system was applied to four different carbon-hydrogen (C-H) functionalization reactions, hydroxyalkylation and alkylation of N-heteroaromatics, acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols, and benzylation of imines, with high functional group tolerance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Electron Transport
  • Electrons
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrogen* / chemistry
  • Protons*

Substances

  • Protons
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen