Acyl Radical Smiles Rearrangement To Construct Hydroxybenzophenones by Photoredox Catalysis

Org Lett. 2019 Apr 5;21(7):2077-2080. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b00353. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Abstract

The first visible-light-induced acyl radical Smiles rearrangement to transform biaryl ethers to hydroxybenzophenones under mild and metal-free conditions is reported. Using the dual catalysis of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents and organophotocatalysts, ketoacids readily generate acyl radicals and undergo 1,5- ipso addition. This method can construct electron-deficient and electron-rich hydroxybenzophenones with excellent chemoselectivity and on gram scale. The performance of the reaction in neutral aqueous conditions holds potential for future biomolecule applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't