Mechanism of the Stereoselective α‐Alkylation of Aldehydes Driven by the Photochemical Activity of Enamines

Herein we describe our efforts to elucidate the key mechanistic aspects of the previously reported enantiose- lective photochemical α-alkylation of aldehydes with electron- poor organic halides. The chemistry exploits the potential of chiral enamines, key organocatalytic intermediates in thermal asy...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bahamonde, Ana, Melchiorre, Paolo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2072/350687
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/2072/350687
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6b04871
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:54
Descripción
Sumario:Herein we describe our efforts to elucidate the key mechanistic aspects of the previously reported enantiose- lective photochemical α-alkylation of aldehydes with electron- poor organic halides. The chemistry exploits the potential of chiral enamines, key organocatalytic intermediates in thermal asymmetric processes, to directly participate in the photo- excitation of substrates either by forming a photoactive electron donor−acceptor complex or by directly reaching an electronically excited state upon light absorption. These photochemical mechanisms generate radicals from closed- shell precursors under mild conditions. At the same time, the ground-state chiral enamines provide effective stereochemical control over the enantioselective radical-trapping process. We use a combination of conventional photophysical investigations, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and kinetic studies to gain a better understanding of the factors governing these enantioselective photochemical catalytic processes. Measurements of the quantum yield reveal that a radical chain mechanism is operative, while reaction-profile analysis and rate-order assessment indicate the trapping of the carbon-centered radical by the enamine, to form the carbon−carbon bond, as rate-determining. Our kinetic studies unveil the existence of a delicate interplay between the light-triggered initiation step and the radical chain propagation manifold, both mediated by the chiral enamines.