Photocatalytic α-arylation of cyclic ketones

Md Mubarak Hossain, Aslam C. Shaikh, Jules Moutet, Thomas L. Gianetti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

The direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds using aryl halides represents a powerful method to synthesize critical building blocks for diverse useful compounds. Numerous synthetic methods exist to forge C(sp 2)–C(sp 3) bonds although mild and metal-free direct α-arylation of ketones remains a challenging transformation. Here we report a green-light-mediated α-arylation of ketones from readily available aryl halides via activation of a C(sp 2)–X bond (X = I, Br, Cl) and an α-carbonyl C(sp 3)–H bond in a single photocatalytic cycle. This approach is characterized by its mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity and wide functional group tolerance. Importantly, the impressive outcome of the multigram photocatalytic reaction underpins the strength of this method as a potentially practical and attractive approach for scale-up industrial purposes. The utility and scope of this reaction were further demonstrated by formal syntheses of several feedstock chemicals that are commercially expensive but critical for synthesizing numerous pharmaceutical agents. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)147-157
Number of pages11
JournalNature Synthesis
Volume1
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry (miscellaneous)
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Photocatalytic α-arylation of cyclic ketones'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this