Identification of Bond-Weakening Spirosilane Catalyst for Photoredox α-C?H Alkylation of Alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/adsc.201901253

The development of catalyst-controlled site-selective C(sp³)?H functionalization is a current major challenge in organic synthesis. This paper describes DFT-guided identification of pentavalent silicate species as a novel bond-weakening catalyst for the α-C?H bonds of alcohols together with a photoredox catalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer catalyst. Specifically, Martin's spirosilane accelerated α-C?H alkylation of alcohols. (Figure presented.).