Diastereoselective Radical Aminoacylation of Olefins through N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Dec 14;144(49):22767-22777. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c11209. Epub 2022 Nov 24.

Abstract

There have been significant advancements in radical-mediated reactions through covalent-based organocatalysis. Here, we present the generation of iminyl and amidyl radicals via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis, enabling diastereoselective aminoacylation of trisubstituted alkenes. Different from photoredox catalysis, single electron transfer from the deprotonated Breslow intermediate to O-aryl hydroxylamine generates an NHC-bound ketyl radical, which undergoes diastereocontrolled cross-coupling with the prochiral C-centered radical. This operationally simple method provides a straightforward access to a variety of pyrroline and oxazolidinone heterocycles with vicinal stereocenters (77 examples, up to >19:1 d.r.). Electrochemical studies of the acyl thiazolium salts support our reaction design and highlight the reducing ability of Breslow-type derivatives. A detailed computational analysis of this organocatalytic system suggests that radical-radical coupling is the rate-determining step, in which π-π stacking interaction between the radical intermediates subtly controls the diastereoselectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkenes*
  • Aminoacylation
  • Catalysis

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • carbene
  • methylene radical