Nucleophilic (Radio)Fluorination of Redox-Active Esters via Radical-Polar Crossover Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Eric W. Webb, John B. Park, Erin L. Cole, David J. Donnelly, Samuel J. Bonacorsi, William R. Ewing, Abigail G. Doyle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report a redox-neutral method for nucleophilic fluorination of N-hydroxyphthalimide esters using an Ir photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. The method provides access to a broad range of aliphatic fluorides, including primary, secondary, and tertiary benzylic fluorides as well as unactivated tertiary fluorides, that are typically inaccessible by nucleophilic fluorination due to competing elimination. In addition, we show that the decarboxylative fluorination conditions are readily adapted to radiofluorination with [18F]KF. We propose that the reactions proceed by two electron transfers between the Ir catalyst and redox-active ester substrate to afford a carbocation intermediate that undergoes subsequent trapping by fluoride. Examples of trapping with O- and C-centered nucleophiles and deoxyfluorination via N-hydroxyphthalimidoyl oxalates are also presented, suggesting that this approach may offer a general blueprint for affecting redox-neutral SN1 substitutions under mild conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9493-9500
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume142
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 20 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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