Demethylation C-C coupling reaction facilitated by the repulsive Coulomb force between two cations

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional carbon chain elongation relies on chemical catalysts or bioenzymes.
• Developing efficient, catalyst-free methods for C-C coupling is crucial for sustainable synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel catalyst-free approach for carbon chain elongation (CCE).
• To promote demethylation C-C coupling reactions for advanced CCE under ambient conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an electric field to accelerate the approach of organic cations.
• Investigating reaction mechanisms using molecular dynamics simulations and stationary-point calculations.
• Confirming C-C coupling via high-resolution mass spectrometry and isotope-labeling experiments.

Main Results:

• Achieved catalyst-free C-C coupling reactions with yields up to 76.5%.
• Demonstrated successful coupling of carbonyl carbon groups after methyl cation elimination.
• Observed reactions in both gas and liquid phases under ambient conditions.

Conclusions:

• The electric field effectively overcomes Coulomb repulsion to facilitate C-C bond formation.
• This method provides a new pathway for synthesizing functionalized molecules without traditional catalysts.
• The study offers significant insights into the mechanism of electric-field-driven organic reactions.