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Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Nickel/Photoredox-Catalyzed Reductive Alkylation/Aldol Reaction
Wenlong Wang1,2, Xianzhou Zheng1, Xian He3
1Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
Abstract:
We report herein the first reductive alkylation/aldol reaction via dual nickel/photoredox catalysis. This catalytic strategy completes the traditional approaches that require the performance of reactive organometallic reagents. By the simple assembly of unactivated alkyl halides, α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, and aldehydes in one-pot reaction, a variety of synthetically valuable β-hydroxyl carbonyl compounds can be synthesized under mild conditions with moderate to good yields. The reaction features a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and 1°, 2°, and 3° alkyl bromides are all compatible with this catalytic system.
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