Jia-Rong Chen, Central China Normal University, PR China

Short biography: Jia-Rong Chen earned his Ph.D. from CCNU under the supervision of Prof. Wen-Jing Xiao in 2009. From 2011 to 2012, he engaged in postdoctoral research as a Humboldt Fellow with Prof. Carsten Bolm at RWTH Aachen University. In 2012, he returned to CCNU to begin his independent career and was promoted to full professor in 2016. His research interests include photoredox catalysis, asymmetric radical cross-coupling, and multicomponent radical reactions.

Photoredox and Copper-Catalyzed Controlled Generation of Radical Anions and Multicomponent Radical Reaction Design

Jia-Rong Chen^a,b,*

^aCollege of Chemistry, Central China Normal University

^bWuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology

e-mail: chenjiarong@mail.ccnu.edu.cn

Keywords:multicomponent radical reaction, photoredox catalysis, copper catalysis, radical anions

Radical anions, which possess both the properties of radicals and anions, are an important type of intermediate in organic synthesis transformations.¹ However, the common methods for generating such reactive intermediates often require relatively harsh conditions, leading to difficulties in controlling the reactivity and limited functional group compatibility. In recent years, with the development of photoredox catalysis and transition metal catalysis,² the chemistry of radical anions has ushered in new opportunities. Building on our previous work in photocatalysis and copper catalysis,³ we have developed a synergistic mode of photoredox and copper catalysis for controllable generation and efficient transformations of radical anions, including asymmetric cynanofunctionalization of alkenes, hydroalkynylation and hydroarylation of alkenes, and hydrofunctionalization of epoxides.⁴

Fig. 1 Enantioselective diversification of radical anions

References

[1] (a) Li, X.; Tu, Y.-L.; Chen, X.-Y. Eur. J. Org. Chem.2024, 27, e202301060. (b) Yue, J.-P.; Xu, J.-C.; Luo, H.-T.; Chen, X.-W.; Song, H.-X.; Deng, Y.; Yuan, L.; Ye, J.-H.; Yu, D.-G. Nat Catal.2023, 6, 959.

[2] Chan, A. Y.; Perry, I. B.; Bissonnette, N. B.; Buksh, B. F.; Edwards, G. A.; Frye, L. I.; Garry, O. L.; Lavagnino, M. N.; Li, B. X.; Liang, Y.; Mao, E.; Millet, A.; Oakley, J. V.; Reed, N. L.; Sakai, H. A.; Seath, C. P.; MacMillan, D. W. C. Chem. Rev.2022, 122, 1485.

[3] Wang, P.-Z.; Xiao, W.-J.; Chen, J.-R. Nat. Rev. Chem.2023, 7, 35.

[4] Zhang, B.; Li, T.-T.; Mao, Z.-C.; Jiang, M.; Zhang, Z.-H.; Zhao, K.; Qu, W.-Y.; Xiao, W.-J.; Chen, J.-R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 1410.