Photoexcited Palladium-Catalyzed Deracemization of Allenes

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c07126
• Publication Date: 2024-07-18T17:13:49Z
• Authors: Changhua Song; Xiangbin Bai; Bo Li; Yanfeng Dang; Shouyun Yu
• Keywords: Enantiomeric excess; Synthon

The different enantiomers of specific chiral molecules frequently exhibit disparate biological, physiological, or pharmacological properties. Therefore, the efficient synthesis single is particular importance not only to pharmaceutical sector but also other industrial sectors, such as agrochemical and fine chemical industries. Deracemization, a process during which racemic mixture converted into nonracemic product with 100% atom economy theoretical yield, most straightforward method access enantioenriched challenging task due decrease in entropy microscopic reversibility. Axially allenes bear distinctive structure two orthogonal cumulative π-systems are acknowledged synthetically versatile synthons organic synthesis. selective creation axially high optical purity under mild reaction conditions has always been very popular hot topic remains challenging. Herein, photoexcited palladium-catalyzed deracemization nonprefunctionalized disubstituted disclosed. This provides an economical strategy accommodate broad scope good enantioselectivities yields (53 examples, up 96% yield 95% ee). use suitable palladium complex visible light irradiation essential factor achieving this transformation. A metal-to-ligand charge transfer mechanism was proposed based on control experiments density functional theory calculations. Quantum mechanical studies implicate dual modes asymmetric induction behind our new protocol: (1) sterically controlled stereoselective binding one allene enantiomer ground-state (2) facile, noncovalent interaction-driven excited-state isomerization toward opposite enantiomer. success newly established photochemical should provide inspiration for expansion multisubstituted will open mode enantioselective catalysis.