Catalytic Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Aliphatic Alcohols
Hiromu Fuse1, Harunobu Mitsunuma1, Motomu Kanai1
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Abstract:
We developed the first acceptorless dehydrogenation of aliphatic secondary alcohols to ketones under visible light irradiation at room temperature by devising a ternary hybrid catalyst system comprising a photoredox catalyst, a thiophosphate organocatalyst, and a nickel catalyst. The reaction proceeded through three main steps: hydrogen atom transfer from the α-C-H bond of an alcohol substrate to the thiyl radical of the photo-oxidized organocatalyst, interception of the generated carbon-centered radical with a nickel catalyst, and β-hydride elimination. The reaction proceeded in high yield under mild conditions without producing side products (except H2 gas) from various alcohols, including sterically hindered alcohols, a steroid, and a pharmaceutical derivative. This catalyst system also promoted acceptorless cross-dehydrogenative esterification from aldehydes and alcohols through hemiacetal intermediates.
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