Photoinduced site-selective alkenylation of alkanes and aldehydes with aryl alkenes

Nat Commun. 2020 Apr 23;11(1):1956. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15878-6.

Abstract

The dehydrogenative alkenylation of C-H bonds with alkenes represents an atom- and step-economical approach for olefin synthesis and molecular editing. Site-selective alkenylation of alkanes and aldehydes with the C-H substrate as the limiting reagent holds significant synthetic value. We herein report a photocatalytic method for the direct alkenylation of alkanes and aldehydes with aryl alkenes in the absence of any external oxidant. A diverse range of commodity feedstocks and pharmaceutical compounds are smoothly alkenylated in useful yields with the C-H partner as the limiting reagent. The late-stage alkenylation of complex molecules occurs with high levels of site selectivity for sterically accessible and electron-rich C-H bonds. This strategy relies on the synergistic combination of direct hydrogen atom transfer photocatalysis with cobaloxime-mediated hydrogen-evolution cross-coupling, which promises to inspire additional perspectives for selective C-H functionalizations in a green manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Alkanes / chemistry*
  • Alkenes / chemical synthesis
  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Green Chemistry Technology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Alkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • cobaloxime