Photoredox Generated Radicals In Csp2-Csp3 Bond Construction

The routine application of Csp3-hybridized nucleophiles in cross-coupling has been an ongoing pursuit in the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, and materials science industries for over 40 years. Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts to circumvent the problems associated with alkyl nucleophiles, application of these reagents in transition metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions has remained largely restricted. In recent years, many chemists have noted the lack of reliable, turnkey reactions that exist for the installation of Csp3-hybridized centers - reactions that would be useful for delivering molecules with enhanced three-dimensional topology and altered chemical properties. As such, a general method for alkyl nucleophile activation in cross-coupling would offer access to a host of compounds inaccessible by other means. From a mechanistic standpoint, the continued failure of alkylmetallics is inherent to the high energy intermediates associated with a traditional transmetalation. To overcome this problem, we have pioneered an alternate, single-electron pathway involving 1) initial oxidation of an alkylmetallic reagent, 2) oxidative alkyl radical capture at a metal center, and 3) subsequent reduction of the metal center to return its initial oxidation state. This series of steps constitutes a formal transmetalation that avoids the energy-demanding steps that plague a traditional anionic approach. Under this enabling paradigm, a host of alkyl precursors (alkyl-trifluoroborates and - silicates) have been generally used in cross-coupling for the first time. In summary, the synergistic use of an Ir photoredox catalyst and a Ni cross-coupling catalyst to mediate the cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl bromides with diverse alkyl radical precursors will be discussed. Methods for coupling various trifluoroborate classes (α-alkoxy, α-trifluoromethyl, secondary and tertiary alkyl) will be covered, focusing on their complementarity to traditional protocols. Finally, a discussion of novel silicate radical precursors and their advantages in a single-electron transmetalation regime will be included.

Author dc:creator

• Primer, David Neal

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gary A. Molander

Statement dc:rights

• David Neal Primer

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/29465

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.upenn.edu:20.500.14332/29465