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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Visible-Light-Enabled Paternò-Büchi Reaction via Triplet Energy Transfer for the Synthesis of Oxetanes
Katie A Rykaczewski1, Corinna S Schindler1
1Department of Chemistry, Willard Henry Dow Laboratory, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Abstract:
One of the most efficient ways to synthesize oxetanes is the light-enabled [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of carbonyls and alkenes, referred to as the Paternò-Büchi reaction. The reaction conditions for this transformation typically require the use of high energy UV light to excite the carbonyl, limiting the applications, safety, and scalability. We herein report the development of a visible-light-mediated Paternò-Büchi reaction protocol that relies on triplet energy transfer from an iridium-based photocatalyst to the carbonyl substrates. This mode of activation is demonstrated for a variety of aryl glyoxylates and negates the need for both visible-light-absorbing carbonyl starting materials and UV light to enable access to a variety of functionalized oxetanes in up to 99% yield.
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