Journal of the American Chemical Society
Communication
synthesis of BCPAs. We recognized that N-centered radicals
can be conveniently accessed by fragmentation of α-
iodoaziridines (2, Figure 1c)33,34 and hypothesized that 1
could serve as a suitable radical acceptor, with the resulting
BCP radical then abstracting an iodine atom from the α-
iodoaziridine starting material. The C−I bond resident in the
iodo-BCPA product 3 would then provide a handle for further
functionalization, potentially via reformation of a BCP radical.
Here we report the realization of this α-iodoaziridine
fragmentation/ATRA to form iodo-BCPAs and the application
of these products in photoredox-catalyzed Giese-type
processes35,36 to access C-substituted BCPAs 4.37
limiting reagent proved equally effective (entry 6). Pleasingly,
the reaction could also be performed on multigram scale with
near-equivalent efficiency using just 1.1 equiv of 1 (entry 7,
6.50 mmol (2.19 g) of 2a, 67%). Comparable yields were
achieved under photoredox catalysis,38 with fac-Ir(ppy)3
performing the best;39 however, a higher loading of 1 was
required (entries 8−9).
Under the optimized conditions, iodo-BCPA synthesis was
found to be applicable to a wide range of α-iodoaziridines
(Figure 2). Aryl sulfonamide aziridines bearing electron-
donating (3a−c, 61%−75%), electron-neutral (3d, 75%), and
electron-withdrawing (3e−i, 55−73%) substituents all gave
high yields of the desired products, although aryl nitro-
sulfonamides were less successful (3j and 3k,10−36%).
Notably, an aryl ketone (3f) was also tolerated, which would
likely not be possible under anionic conditions for amide
additions to 1. Aziridines featuring heterocyclic sulfonamides
including thiophenes (3l−m), oxazole (3n), pyrazole (3o),
benzothiophene (3p), and imidazothiazole (3q) all reacted
smoothly, affording the corresponding BCPA products in good
to excellent yields (52−81%).
α-Iodoaziridine 2a was selected for reaction optimization
(Table 1). Based on the studies of Taguchi33,34 and our
Table 1. Optimization of α-Iodoaziridine Fragmentation/N-
Centered Radical Addition to 1
Alkyl sulfonamide (3r−t, 37−66%) and sulfamide sub-
stituted aziridines (3u−3v, 21−61%) were also accommo-
dated.40
We next investigated substitution of the α-iodoaziridine
backbone. Pleasingly, aziridines featuring substituents at the 1-,
2-, and 3-positions were tolerated, including fused cyclo-
pentane and cyclohexane aziridines (3w−aa, 30−73%),
although reaction of a trisubstituted aziridine was low yielding
(3ab, 4%). Finally, the potential of this chemistry to operate in
settings relevant to medicinal chemistry research was
demonstrated via iodobicyclopentylation of the nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib (3ac, 70%).
The C−I bond in the iodo-BCPA product is an attractive
handle for C−C bond formation. However, attempted
lithiation/electrophilic trapping of iodo-BCPA 3a was
unsuccessful due to ejection of the sulfonamide anion,
presumably accompanied by reformation of 1.39 Precedent
for radical-based BCP bridgehead C−C bond formation in
N,C-BCPs is limited: to date only a handful of azide or triazole
N-substituents have been studied, with reliance on organotin
reagents22 or the radical acceptor as reaction solvent.41 We
questioned whether photoredox catalysis could offer a solution
to this challenge, where the bridgehead C−I bond could be
functionalized through Giese-type reactions.35,36 Previous
studies have demonstrated the use of silane and silanol
mediators42 to generate radicals from simple alkyl43−47 and
aryl48 halides under photoredox catalysis; however, use on the
BCP scaffold is unprecedented.
Iodo-BCPA 3a was selected for reaction optimization (Table
2), with allyl sulfone 6a as an acceptor (Table 2). Initial
attempts using Ir[(dF(CF3)ppy)2(dtbbpy)]PF6 with
(Me3Si)3SiH(TTMSS) as a radical mediator delivered addition
product 4a in 16% yield, along with a significant amount of the
deiodination product 3a-H (entry 1).49 This competing H-
atom abstraction by the presumed BCPA radical intermediate
could be avoided by using (Me3Si)3SiOH, which acts as a silyl
radical source via silanolate oxidation/radical-Brook rearrange-
ment.48,50 This led to a significant improvement in yield (38%,
entry 2), which was further enhanced to 60% using CH2Cl2 as
solvent, likely due to improved solubility of 6a (entry 3).
Variation of the photocatalyst led to decreased yields of 4a,
although the organocatalyst 4-CzIPN was also well-suited to
b
1
Temp
Yield
d
3a:3a-
a
c
e
Entry Conditions (equiv) Cosolvent
(°C)
(%)
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
2.0
2.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
20
0
67
63
71
6:1
11:1
17:1
>20:1
>20:1
>20:1
>20:1
20:1
20
20
20
20
20
30
30
f
CH2Cl2
72 (75)
g
CH2Cl2
CH2Cl2
CH2Cl2
t-BuCN
t-BuCN
64
65
67
31
57
h
1.0
1.1
1.3
2.0
14:1
a
Conditions A: Et3B (10 mol %), air, 5 h. Conditions B: fac-Ir(ppy)3
(2.5 mol %), blue LEDs (18 W), N2, 18 h. 1 was used as a 0.6−0.8
M solution in Et2O unless indicated otherwise. 2a was prepared as a
b
c
d
1.0 M solution in the cosolvent, where used. NMR yield, determined
e
using mesitylene as internal standard. Determined by 1H NMR
f
spectroscopic analysis of the crude reaction mixture. Yield in
parentheses is the isolated yield, including <5% 3a-S and 3a-H
impurities. 1 was prepared as a 1.06 M solution in CH2Cl2. 1.5
equiv of 2a.
g
h
experience with the addition of C-centered radicals to 1,31,32
triethylborane was first tested as an initiator. Pleasingly, the
desired C−N σ bond fragmentation/ATRA proceeded
efficiently using 2.0 equiv of 1, giving iodo-BCP sulfonamide
3a in 67% yield (entry 1); small amounts of staffane 3a-S, H-
atom abstraction product 3a-H, and N-allylsulfonamide 5a
were also observed. The proportion of staffane (6:1) could be
significantly reduced by lowering the reaction temperature
(11:1, entry 2) or the equivalents of 1 (17:1, entry 3).
Suspecting that 3a-H and 5a might arise from H-atom
abstraction from the solvent, use of CH2Cl2 as cosolvent was
tested and indeed reduced the levels of these byproducts
(entry 4), giving a 75% yield of 3a with <5% of 3a-S and 3a-H.
A solution of 1 in CH2Cl2 was prepared; however, no further
benefit in yield was observed (entry 5). Employing 1 as the
9730
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 9729−9736