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Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Ring Opening of Cycloalkanols Followed by a Giese Radical Addition Enabled by an
Benedetta Carli1, Noelia Salaverri1, Lara Martinez-Fernandez1
1Organic Chemistry Department (Módulo 1), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Francisco Tomás y Valiente 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Herein, we describe the formation of an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex between electron-rich cycloalkanols and electron-deficient alkenes that triggers the proton-coupled electron transfer ring opening of strained and unstrained cycloalkanols without the need for an external photocatalyst. This activation generates a remote alkyl radical that undergoes a Giese reaction with the Michael acceptor in an efficient manner. Mechanistic investigations corroborate both the formation of the EDA complex and the consecutive Giese reaction.
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