Formal β-C-H Arylation of Aldehydes and Ketones by Cooperative Nickel and Photoredox Catalysis

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 Aug 1;61(31):e202206533. doi: 10.1002/anie.202206533. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Abstract

α-C-H-functionalization of ketones and aldehydes has been intensively explored in organic synthesis. The functionalization of unactivated β-C-H bonds in such carbonyl compounds is less well investigated and developing a general method for their β-C-H arylation remains challenging. Herein we report a method that uses cooperative nickel and photoredox catalysis for the formal β-C-H arylation of aldehydes and ketones with (hetero)aryl bromides. The method features mild conditions, remarkable scope and wide functional group tolerance. Importantly, the introduced synthetic strategy also allows the β-alkenylation, β-alkynylation and β-acylation of aldehydes under similar conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed that this transformation proceeds through a single electron oxidation/Ni-mediated coupling/reductive elimination cascade.

Keywords: Allylic Radicals; Carbonyls; C−H Activation; Dual Catalysis; Silyl Enol Ethers.