Photoredox Nickel-Catalyzed C-S Cross-Coupling: Mechanism, Kinetics, and Generalization

Photoredox-mediated nickel-catalyzed cross-couplings have evolved as a new effective strategy to forge carbon-heteroatom bonds that are difficult to access with traditional methods. Experimental mechanistic studies are challenging because these reactions involve multiple highly reactive intermediates and perplexing reaction pathways, engendering competing, but unverified, proposals for substrate conversions. Here, we report a comprehensive mechanistic study of photoredox nickel-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling based on time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy, Stern-Volmer quenching, and quantum yield measurements. We have (i) discovered a self-sustained productive Ni(I/III) cycle leading to a quantum yield Φ > 1; (ii) found that pyridinium iodide, formed in situ, serves as the dominant quencher for the excited state photocatalyst and a critical redox mediator to facilitate the formation of the active Ni(I) catalyst; and (iii) observed critical intermediates and determined the rate constants associated with their reactivity. Not only do the findings reveal a complete reaction cycle for C-S cross-coupling, but the mechanistic insights have also allowed for the reaction efficiency to be optimized and the substrate scope to be expanded from aryl iodides to include aryl bromides, thus broadening the applicability of photoredox C-S cross-coupling chemistry.