Hydrogenation of Alkenes via Cooperative Hydrogen Atom Transfer
Padmanabha V Kattamuri1, Julian G West1
1Department of Chemistry, Rice University, BioScience Research Collaborative, Houston, Texas 77030, United States.
Abstract:
Radical hydrogenation via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to alkenes is an increasingly important transformation for the formation of thermodynamic alkane isomers. Current single-catalyst methods require stoichiometric oxidant in addition to hydride (H-) source to function. Here we report a new approach to radical hydrogenation: cooperative hydrogen atom transfer (cHAT), where each hydrogen atom donated to the alkene arrives from a different catalyst. Further, these hydrogen atom (H•) equivalents are generated from complementary hydrogen atom precursors, with each alkane requiring one hydride (H-) and one proton (H+) equivalent and no added oxidants. Preliminary mechanistic study supports this reaction manifold and shows the intersection of metal-catalyzed HAT and thiol radical trapping HAT catalytic cycles to be essential for effective catalysis. Together, this unique catalyst system allows us to reduce a variety of unactivated alkene substrates to their respective alkanes in high yields and diastereoselectivities and introduces a new approach to radical hydrogenation.
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