Visible light-induced direct α C-H functionalization of alcohols.

Niu, Linbin; Liu, Jiamei; Liang, Xing-An; Wang, Shengchun; Lei, Aiwen · Nat Commun · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Considering the synthetic value of introducing active alcoholic hydroxyl group, developing C-H functionalization of alcohols is of significance. Herein, we present a photochemical method that under visible light irradiation, selectfluor can effectively promote the oxidative cross-coupling between alcohols and heteroarenes without the external photocatalysis, achieving the selective α sp<sup>3</sup> C-H arylation of alcohol, even in the presence of ether. The N-F activation of selectfluor under blue LEDs irradiation is evidenced by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study, which is the key process for the oxidative activation of α sp<sup>3</sup> C-H alcohols. The observed reactivity may have significant implications for chemical transformations.