Reported here is a precise electro-reduction strategy for radical defluorinative alkylation towards the synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes from α-trifluoromethylstyrenes. According to the redox-potential difference of ...Reported here is a precise electro-reduction strategy for radical defluorinative alkylation towards the synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes from α-trifluoromethylstyrenes. According to the redox-potential difference of the radical precursors, direct or indirect electrolysis is respectively adopted to realize the precise reduction. An easy-to-handle, catalyst-and metal-free condition is developed for the reduction of alkyl radical precursors that are generally easier to be reduced than α-trifluoromethylstyrenes,while a novel electro-Ni-catalytic system is established for the electro-reduction of alkyl bromides or chlorides towards the electrochemical synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes. The merit of this protocol is exhibited by its mild conditions, wide substrate scope, and scalable preparation. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations proved that the coordination of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes to Ni-catalyst prevents the direct reduction of the alkene and, in turn, promotes the activation of alkyl bromide through halogen atom transfer mechanism.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA1500100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22031008)the Science Foundation of Wuhan(2020010601012192)。
文摘Reported here is a precise electro-reduction strategy for radical defluorinative alkylation towards the synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes from α-trifluoromethylstyrenes. According to the redox-potential difference of the radical precursors, direct or indirect electrolysis is respectively adopted to realize the precise reduction. An easy-to-handle, catalyst-and metal-free condition is developed for the reduction of alkyl radical precursors that are generally easier to be reduced than α-trifluoromethylstyrenes,while a novel electro-Ni-catalytic system is established for the electro-reduction of alkyl bromides or chlorides towards the electrochemical synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes. The merit of this protocol is exhibited by its mild conditions, wide substrate scope, and scalable preparation. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations proved that the coordination of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes to Ni-catalyst prevents the direct reduction of the alkene and, in turn, promotes the activation of alkyl bromide through halogen atom transfer mechanism.
