posted on 2024-04-03, 13:36authored byFei Cong, Guo-Quan Sun, Si-Han Ye, Rui Hu, Weidong Rao, Ming Joo Koh
The construction of C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds remains
one of
the most difficult
challenges in cross-coupling chemistry. Here, we report a photoredox/nickel
dual catalytic approach that enables the simultaneous formation of
two C(sp3)–C(sp3) linkages via trimolecular cross-coupling of alkenes
with alkyl halides and hypervalent iodine-based reagents. The reaction
harnesses a bimolecular homolytic substitution (SH2) mechanism
and chemoselective halogen-atom transfer (XAT) to orchestrate the
regioselective addition of electrophilic and nucleophilic alkyl radicals
across unactivated alkenes without the need for a directing auxiliary.
Utility is highlighted through late-stage (fluoro)alkylation and (trideutero)methylation
of CC bonds bearing different substitution patterns, offering
straightforward access to drug-like molecules comprising sp3-hybridized carbon scaffolds.