Asymmetric Photocatalytic C(sp3)-H Bond Addition to α-Substituted Acrylates

Org Lett. 2021 Apr 16;23(8):3157-3161. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c00801. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Abstract

Asymmetric functionalization of inert C(sp3)-H bonds is a straightforward approach to realize versatile bond-forming events, allowing the precise assembly of molecular complexity with minimal functional manipulations. Here, we describe an asymmetric photocatalytic C(sp3)-H bond addition to α-substituted acrylates by using tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) photocatalyst and chiral phosphoric acid as a chiral proton-transfer shuttle. This protocol is supposed to occur via a radical/ionic relay process, including a TBADT-mediated HAT to cleave the inert C(sp3)-H bond, a 1,4-radical addition, a back hydrogen abstraction, and an enantioselective protonation. A variety of inert C-H bond patterns and α-substituted acrylates are well tolerated to enable the rapid synthesis of enantioenriched α-stereogenic esters from simple raw materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't