Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
![[(DPEPhos)(bcp)Cu]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)
[(DPEPhos)(bcp)Cu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: May 21, 2019
Photoredox-catalyzed generation and reactivity of α-carbonyl cationic intermediates
Fang Wang1, Jie Gong1, Chong-Jin Zhang1
1School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China. ias_jpqu@njtech.edu.cn.
Abstract:
α-Carbonyl cationic intermediates have emerged as useful species for polarity-reversed functionalization of carbonyl compounds. Recent progress in photoredox catalysis has enabled their generation under mild conditions, especially from electron-deficient alkenes and related carbonyl substrates. This review summarizes recent advances in the photoredox-catalyzed generation and synthetic transformations of α-carbonyl cationic intermediates. The discussion focuses on conceptual development of this field, mechanistic aspects of radical-polar crossover pathways, and representative reactivity patterns, including α-nucleophilic fluorination and halogenation, fluoroalkylative inverse conjugate functionalization, nitrile trapping/Ritter-type amination, and remote difunctionalization. This review aims to provide a concise overview of this rapidly developing area and to highlight future opportunities in α-carbonyl cation chemistry.
More Related Videos
12:19Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Published on: November 29, 2018
06:34Synthesis of Antiviral Tetrahydrocarbazole Derivatives by Photochemical and Acid-catalyzed C-H Functionalization via Intermediate Peroxides (CHIPS)
Published on: June 20, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Acid-Catalyzed α-Halogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones
In the first step of the mechanism, the acid protonates the carbonyl oxygen resulting in a resonance-stabilized cation, which subsequently loses an α-hydrogen to form an enol tautomer. The C=C bond in an enol is highly nucleophilic because of the electron-donating nature of the –OH group. Consequently, the double bond attacks an electrophilic halogen to form a...
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Radical Reactivity: Overview
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation
The carbonyl center is activated by...