Functionalized azetidines via visible light-enabled aza Paternò-Büchi reactions

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13072-x
• Publication Date: 2019-11-08T14:51:23Z
• Authors: Marc R. Becker; Alistair D. Richa...; Corinna S. Schindler
• Keywords: Alkene; Imine

Azetidines are four-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles that hold great promise in current medicinal chemistry due to their desirable pharmacokinetic effects. However, a lack of efficient synthetic methods access functionalized azetidines has hampered incorporation into pharmaceutical lead structures. As [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between imines and alkenes, the aza Paternò-Büchi arguably represents most direct approach azetidines. Hampered by competing paths accessible upon photochemical excitation substrates, utility these transformations is greatly restricted. We herein report development visible light-enabled surmounts existing limitations mild solution for formation from imine alkene containing precursors.