Visible-light-induced, Ir-catalyzed reactions of N-methyl-N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)aniline with cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

• Main Authors: Dominik Lenhart, Thorsten Bach
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beilstein-Institut 2014-04-01
• Series: Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
• Subjects: cyclization; electron transfer; iridium; photochemistry; photoredox catalysis; radical reactions
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.10.86

N-Methyl-N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)aniline was employed as reagent in visible-light-induced, iridium-catalyzed addition reactions to cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Typical reaction conditions included the use of one equivalent of the reaction substrate, 1.5 equivalents of the aniline and 2.5 mol % (in MeOH) or 1.0 mol % (in CH2Cl2) [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]BF4 as the catalyst. Two major reaction products were obtained in combined yields of 30–67%. One product resulted from aminomethyl radical addition, the other product was a tricyclic compound, which is likely formed by attack of the intermediately formed α-carbonyl radical at the phenyl ring. For five-membered α,β-unsaturated lactone and lactam substrates, the latter products were the only products isolated. For the six-membered lactones and lactams and for cyclopentenone the simple addition products prevailed.