Dual-Catalysed Intermolecular Reductive Coupling of Dienes and Ketones

ChemRxiv

Abstract

We report a mild, catalytic method for the intermolecular reductive coupling of feedstock dienes and styrenes with ketones. Our conditions allow concomitant formation of a cobalt hydride species and single-electron-reduction of ketones. Subsequent selective hydrogen-atom-transfer from the cobalt hydride generates an allylic radical which can selectively couple with the persistent radical-anion of the ketone. This radical-radical coupling negates unfavourable steric interactions of ionic pathways and avoids the unstable alkoxy-radical of previous radical olefin-carbonyl couplings which were limited, as a result, to aldehydes. Applications of this novel and straightforward approach include the efficient synthesis of drug-molecules, key-intermediates in drug synthesis and site-selective late-stage-functionalisation.

Authors 3

1. Victor J. Mayerhofer Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University

2. Martina Lippolis Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University

3. Christopher J. Teskey Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University