Direct Stereoselective Installation of Alkyl Fragments at the β-Carbon of Enals via Excited Iminium Ion Catalysis

The direct introduction of sp3 carbon fragments at the β position of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is greatly complicated by competing 1,2-addition manifolds. Previous catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition methods, based on the use of organome- tallic reagents or ground-state iminium ion activation, could not provide general and efficient solutions. We report herein that, by turning them into strong oxidants, visible light excitation of chiral iminium ions triggers a stereocontrolled radical pathway that exclusively affords highly enantioenriched β-substituted aldehydes bearing a variety of alkyl fragments.

C. Verrier, N. Alandini, C. Pezzetta, M. Moliterno, L. Buzzetti, H.B. Hepburn, A. Vega-Peñaloza, M. Silvi, P. Melchiorre

ACS Catal. 2018, 8, (2), 1062-1066
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b03788

Associated ICIQ research group/s:

  • RESEARCH GROUP/S
    The Melchiorre’s Group
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