Asymmetric Propargylic Radical Cyanation Enabled by Dual Organophotoredox and Copper Catalysis

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Apr 17;141(15):6167-6172. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b02338. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Abstract

The first asymmetric propargylic radical cyanation was realized through a dual photoredox and copper catalysis. An organic photocatalyst serves to both generate propargyl radicals and oxidize Cu(I) species to Cu(II) species. A chiral Cu complex functions as an efficient organometallic catalyst to resemble the propargyl radical and cyanide in an enantio-controlled manner. Thus, a diverse range of optically active propargyl cyanides were produced with high reaction efficiency and enantioselectivities (28 examples, 57-97% yields and 83-98% ee). Moreover, mechanistic investigations including experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to illustrate on the reaction pathway and stereochemical results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't