Visible Light-Driven α-Alkylation of <i>N</i>-Aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines Initiated by Electron Donor–Acceptor Complexes
Qing Xia, Yufei Li, Xinmin Wang, Peng Dai, Hong‐Ping Deng, Weihua Zhang
Abstract
The visible light-driven α-alkylation of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines was initiated through electron donor–acceptor complex photochemistry. The reaction can proceed smoothly without the addition of any photocatalysts, transition-metal catalysts, or additional oxidants. The proposed mechanism was supported by various mechanistic studies, and the reactive open-shell alkyl radicals were generally produced from an alkylamine and underwent radical coupling for alkylating a wide range of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines.
Topics & Concepts
ChemistryArylAlkylationPhotochemistryAlkylCatalysisAcceptorRadicalAryl radicalVisible spectrumElectron acceptorOrganic chemistryPhysicsCondensed matter physicsOptoelectronicsRadical Photochemical ReactionsCatalytic C–H Functionalization MethodsSulfur-Based Synthesis Techniques