PHOTOINDUCED DEHYDROGENATIVE ALKENYLATION IN THE ABSENCE OF HYDROGEN ACCEPTORS

Abstract

Alkenylation is one of the most important organic transformations as olefins play an essential role in organic synthesis. However, the alkenylation of abundant and widely available alkyl carboxylic acids, alkanes and aldehydes remain very challenging with established protocols. Through cooperative photocatalysis and cobaloxime catalysis, we have developed general strategies for the dehydrogenative alkenylation of these feedstock chemicals in the absence of hydrogen-acceptors. These transformations meet the requirements of green synthesis and feature high atom-economy, high step-economy, use of cheap catalyst, broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. These strategies represent state-of-the-art alkenylation methods and will likely find broad applications in olefin synthesis and molecular diversification.