Eosin Y (EY) Photoredox-Catalyzed Sulfonylation of Alkenes: Scope and Mechanism

Direct sulfonylation of anilines mediated by visible light

Visible light photocatalysis allows the introduction of the sulfone functional group to anilines under mild reaction conditions, without the need for pre-functionalization.

Sulfones feature prominently in biologically active molecules and are key functional groups for organic synthesis. We report a mild, photoredox-catalyzed reaction for sulfonylation of aniline derivatives with sulfinate salts, and demonstrate the utility of the method by the late-stage functionalization of drugs. Key features of the method are the straightforward generation of sulfonyl radicals from bench-stable sulfinate salts and the use of simple aniline derivatives as convenient readily available coupling partners.

Detection of Fleeting Amine Radical Cations and Elucidation of Chain Processes in Visible-Light-Mediated [3 + 2] Annulation by Online Mass Spectrometric Techniques

Visible-light-mediated photoredox reactions have recently emerged as a powerful means for organic synthesis and thus have generated significant interest from the organic chemistry community. Although the mechanisms of these reactions have been probed by a number of techniques such as NMR, fluorescence quenching, and laser flash photolysis and various degrees of success has been achieved, mechanistic ambiguity still exists (for instance, the involvement of the chain mechanism is still under debate) because of the lack of structural information about the proposed and short-lived intermediates. Herein, we present the detection of transient amine radical cations involved in the intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation reaction of N-cyclopropylaniline (CPA, 1) and styrene 2 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in combination with online laser irradiation of the reaction mixture. In particular, the reactive CPA radical cation 1^+•, the reduced photocatalyst Ru(I)(bpz)₃⁺, and the [3 + 2] annulation product radical cation 3^+• are all successfully detected and confirmed by high-resolution MS. More importantly, the post-irradiation reaction with an additional substrate, isotope-labeled CPA, following photolysis of 1, 2, and Ru catalyst provides strong evidence to support the chain mechanism in the [3 + 2] annulation reaction. Furthermore, the key step of the proposed chain reaction, the oxidation of CPA 1 to amine radical cation 1^+• by product radical cation 3^+• (generated using online electrochemical oxidation of 3), is successfully established. Additionally, the coupling of ESI-MS with online laser irradiation has been successfully applied to probe the photostability of photocatalysts.

Strongly Reducing, Visible-Light Organic Photoredox Catalysts as Sustainable Alternatives to Precious Metals

Photoredox catalysis is a versatile approach for the construction of challenging covalent bonds under mild reaction conditions, commonly using photoredox catalysts (PCs) derived from precious metals. As such, there is need to develop organic analogues as sustainable replacements. Although several organic PCs have been introduced, there remains a lack of strongly reducing, visible-light organic PCs. Herein, we establish the critical photophysical and electrochemical characteristics of both a dihydrophenazine and a phenoxazine system that enables their success as strongly reducing, visible-light PCs for trifluoromethylation reactions and dual photoredox/nickel-catalyzed C-N and C-S cross-coupling reactions, both of which have been historically exclusive to precious metal PCs.

Synthesis of γ-keto sulfones by copper-catalyzed oxidative sulfonylation of tertiary cyclopropanols

Preparation of γ-keto sulfones via ring-opening sulfonylation of cyclopropanols.

Eosin Y catalysed photoredox synthesis: a review

In recent years, photoredox catalysis using eosin Y has come to the fore front in organic chemistry as a powerful strategy for the activation of small molecules.

Mechanistic Perspectives on Organic Photoredox Catalysis for Aromatic Substitutions

Photoredox catalysis has emerged as a powerful tool for the utilization of visible light to drive chemical reactions between organic molecules that exhibit two rather ubiquitous properties: colorlessness and redox-activity. The photocatalyst, however, requires significant absorption in the visible spectrum and reversible redox activity. This very general framework has led to the development of several new modes of reactivity based on electron and energy transfer steps between photoexcited catalyst states and various organic molecules. In the past years, major effort has been devoted to photoredox-catalytic aromatic substitutions involving an initial reductive activation of various aryl electrophiles by the photocatalyst, which opens a new entry into selective arene functionalizations within organic synthesis endeavors. This, however, has led to a unilateral emphasis of synthetic developments including catalyst modifications, substrate scope studies, and combinations with other chemical processes. This Account summarizes recent reports of new protocols for the synthesis of aromatic esters, thioethers, boronates, sulfonates, heterobiaryls, deuteroarenes, and other functionalized arenes under mild photoredox conditions with organic dyes. On the other hand, mechanistic studies were largely neglected. This Account emphasizes the most relevant experiments and techniques, which can greatly assist in the exploration of the mechanistic foundation of aromatic photoredox substitutions and the design of new chemical reactivities. The nature and physicochemical properties of the employed organic dyes, the control of its acid-base chemistry, the choice of the irradiation sources, and the concentrations of substrates and dyes are demonstrated to decisively affect the activity of organic photocatalysts, the chemo- and regioselectivities of reactions, and the operating mechanisms. Several methods of distinction between photocatalytic and radical chain processes are being discussed such as the determination of quantum yields by conventional actinometric studies or modern photon counter devices. Careful analyses of key thermodynamic and kinetic data of the single electron transfer steps involved in aromatic photoredox substitutions by experimental and theoretical techniques are being exemplified with recent examples from the literature including the determination of redox potentials by DFT and CV, fluorescence quenching studies, and transient absorption/emission spectroscopy. This Account provides the uninitiated reader with an overview of the potential of organic photoredox catalysis for aromatic substitution reactions and encourages the practitioners to consult highly instructive synthetic, mechanistic, theoretical, and spectroscopic tools that are available in research laboratories.

Visible light catalyzed methylsulfoxidation of (het)aryl diazonium salts using DMSO

The visible light catalyzed methylsulfoxidation of (het)aryl diazonium salts using DMSO is illustrated.

Metal-free C–H sulfonamidation of pyrroles by visible light photoredox catalysis

Blue light and catalytic amounts of an acridinium dye are sufficient for the C–H sulfamidation of pyrroles.

Umpolung synthesis of branched α-functionalized amines from imines via photocatalytic three-component reductive coupling reactions

A three component reductive coupling reaction of a (hetero)aromatic amine, a (hetero)aromatic aldehyde and an electron deficient olefin catalysed by eosin Y under green LED light irradiation, for the direct generation of γ-amino acid derivatives, is described.

Visible light-promoted synthesis of 4-(sulfonylmethyl)isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-diones via a tandem radical cyclization and sulfonylation reaction

4-(Sulfonylmethyl)isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-diones were synthesized via a visible-light-promoted cyclization and sulfonylation reaction catalyzed by fac-Ir(ppy)₃.