N-Heterocyclic Nitreniums Can Be Employed as Photoredox Catalysts for the Single-Electron Reduction of Aryl Halides
Kun‐Quan Chen, Beibei Zhang, Zhixiang Wang, Xiang‐Yu Chen
Abstract
N-Heterocyclic nitrenium (NHN) salts, the analogues of N-heterocyclic carbenes, have attracted considerable interest. However, relatively little is known about their catalytic ability beyond their Lewis acid catalysis. Herein, we describe that NHNs can serve as catalytic electron acceptors for charge transfer complex photoactivations. We showcase that, under blue light irradiation, the NHN salts could catalyze the generation of aryl radicals from aryl halides.
Topics & Concepts
ChemistryArylCatalysisHalideLewis acids and basesPhotoredox catalysisRadicalCombinatorial chemistryAryl halideSynergistic catalysisPhotochemistryElectron transferAryl radicalOrganic chemistryPhotocatalysisAlkylN-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Organic and Inorganic ChemistryCatalytic Cross-Coupling ReactionsCatalytic C–H Functionalization Methods