Electrochemical Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi Coupling: Scope, Applications, and Mechanism

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Jun 30;143(25):9478-9488. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c03007. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Abstract

One of the most oft-employed methods for C-C bond formation involving the coupling of vinyl-halides with aldehydes catalyzed by Ni and Cr (Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi, NHK) has been rendered more practical using an electroreductive manifold. Although early studies pointed to the feasibility of such a process, those precedents were never applied by others due to cumbersome setups and limited scope. Here we show that a carefully optimized electroreductive procedure can enable a more sustainable approach to NHK, even in an asymmetric fashion on highly complex medicinally relevant systems. The e-NHK can even enable non-canonical substrate classes, such as redox-active esters, to participate with low loadings of Cr when conventional chemical techniques fail. A combination of detailed kinetics, cyclic voltammetry, and in situ UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry of these processes illuminates the subtle features of this mechanistically intricate process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / chemical synthesis*
  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Amides / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Chromium / chemistry
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / chemistry
  • Nickel / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Aldehydes
  • Amides
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • Chromium
  • Nickel