Abstract
Molecular editing such as insertion, deletion, and single atom exchange in highly functionalized compounds is an aspirational goal for all chemists. Here, we disclose a photoredox protocol for the replacement of a single fluorine atom with hydrogen in electron-deficient trifluoromethylarenes including complex drug molecules. A robustness screening experiment shows that this reductive defluorination tolerates a range of functional groups and heterocycles commonly found in bioactive molecules. Preliminary studies allude to a catalytic cycle whereby the excited state of the organophotocatalyst is reductively quenched by the hydrogen atom donor, and returned in its original oxidation state by the trifluoromethylarene.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9181-9187 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
| Volume | 142 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 May 2020 |
Funding
This project has received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N509711/1) (J.B.I.S.), European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 721902 (C.F.M.) and 840724 (L.B.). Gloria Rosetto (Williams group, Oxford) and Gabriele Laudadio (Eindhoven) are acknowledged for assistance with the deuteration and cyclic voltammetry experiments, respectively.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| European Union's Horizon 2020 - Research and Innovation Framework Programme | 721902, 840724 |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council | EP/N509711/1 |