Photoexcited cobalt catalysed endo-selective alkyl Heck reaction

Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 Mar 28;59(26):3862-3865. doi: 10.1039/d2cc06967a.

Abstract

Herein, we report an intramolecular endo-selective Heck reaction of iodomethylsilyl ethers of phenols and alkenols. The reaction leads to the formation of seven- and eight-membered siloxycycles in excellent yields, which could be further converted into the corresponding allylic alcohols upon oxidation. Thus, this method could be used for the selective (Z)-hydroxymethylation of o-hydroxystyrenes and alkenols. Rapid scan EPR experiments and DFT calculations suggest a concerted β-hydrogen elimination event to take place in the triplet state.