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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
![[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59739.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: May 21, 2019
The Photochemical Activity of a Halogen-Bonded Complex Enables the Microfluidic Light-Driven Alkylation of Phenols
Sara Cuadros1, Cristian Rosso2, Giorgia Barison1
1Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
A mild light-driven protocol for the direct alkylation of phenols is reported. The process is driven by the photochemical activity of a halogen-bonded complex formed upon complexation of the in situ generated electron-rich phenolate anion with the α-iodosulfone. The reaction proceeds rapidly (10 min) under microfluidic conditions, delivering a wide variety of ortho-alkylated products (27 examples, up to 97% yield, >20:1 regioselectivity, on a gram scale), including densely functionalized bioactive phenol derivatives.
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