Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Visible-Light Photocatalytic Multicomponent Ritter-Type Reactions with Aryl and Alkyl Bromides as Carbon Radical
Zhi-Xiong Wu1, Peng-Lu Liu1, Zhuo-Ying Dong1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, PR China.
Abstract:
We report a visible-light-mediated, multicomponent Ritter-type reaction among an alkene, an aryl or alkyl bromide, a carboxylic acid, acetonitrile, and water. These reactions lead to the 1,2-difunctionalization of alkenes to give a wide variety of N-substituted diacylimides. Importantly, aryl bromides are successfully used as an aryl radical source in these reactions, significantly enhancing the structural diversity of the N-substituted diacylimide products of potential biological value. On the basis of control experiments and computation of the energy profile of the reaction, the role of carboxylate and water in the reaction was clarified and a reaction mechanism was proposed.
Related Concept Videos
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Chlorination and Bromination of Benzene
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism
The mechanism starts with chain initiation, which involves two steps. In the first chain initiation step, a weak peroxide bond is homolytically cleaved upon mild heating to form two alkoxy radicals. In the second initiation step, a hydrogen atom is abstracted by the alkoxy radical...
Reactions at the Benzylic Position: Halogenation
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals
Radical Substitution: Allylic Bromination
![[(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)
