Visible-Light Photocatalytic Functionalization of Isocyanides for the Synthesis of Secondary Amides and Ketene Aminals

J Org Chem. 2020 Nov 6;85(21):14077-14086. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c01946. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Abstract

A new visible light-induced photocatalytic protocol enabling the formation of secondary amides from electron-poor organic bromides and isocyanides was developed. In addition, the in situ interception of ketenimine intermediates with nitrogen nucleophiles such as amines, hydrazines, and TMSN3 afforded, in a one-pot two-step procedure, valuable scaffolds such as ketene aminals, pyrazolones, and tetrazoles. Mechanistic evidence confirmed a radical pathway where isocyanides acted as radical geminal acceptors generating key imidoyl radical species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't