Polarity Umpolung Strategy for the Radical Alkylation of Alkenes
Jige Liu, Shuo Wu, Jiajia Yu, Chenxi Lu, Zhen Wu, Xinxin Wu, Xiao‐Song Xue, Chen Zhu
Abstract
Free radical mediated alkylation of alkenes is a challenging and largely unmet goal. Disclosed here is a conceptually novel "polarity umpolung" strategy for radical alkylation of alkenes using a portfolio of easily accessed, difunctional alkylating reagents. This strategy is achieved by substituting inherently nucleophilic alkyl radicals with electrophilic sulfone-bearing surrogates, thus inverting the usual mode of reactivity. Along with alkylation, either an heteroaryl or oximino group is concurrently incorporated into the alkenes by a consecutive docking and migration process, leading to valuable products. The reaction displays a broad functional-group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. The protocol opens new vistas for the late-stage modification of complex natural products and drug molecules containing alkene moieties.