Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Site-Selective Pyridine C-H Alkylation with Alcohols and Thiols via Single-Electron Transfer of Frustrated Lewis
Chang-Yin Tan1,2, Myojeong Kim1,2, Inyoung Park1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
A unified strategy for the deoxygenative or desulfurative pyridylation of various alcohols and thiols has been developed through a single-electron transfer (SET) process of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) derived from pyridinium salts and PtBu3 . Mechanistic studies revealed that N-amidopyridinium salts serve as effective Lewis acids for the formation of FLPs with PtBu3 , and the generated phosphine radical cation ionically couples with the in situ generated xanthate, eventually affording the alkyl radical through facile β-scission under photocatalyst-free conditions. The reaction efficiency was further accelerated by visible-light irradiation. This method is conceptually appealing by using encounter complexes in FLP chemistry to promote SET, which provides a previously unrecognized opportunity for the selective heteroarylation of a diverse range of alcohols and thiols with various functional groups, even in complex settings under mild reaction conditions.
Related Concept Videos
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Conversion of Alcohols to Alkyl Halides

