Flavin Catalysis Employing an N(5)-Adduct: an Application in the Aerobic Organocatalytic Mitsunobu Reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejoc.201900397

An artificial flavin system has been firstly proved to employ an N(5)-adduct for a catalytic transformation. This mode of catalysis occurs in some flavoenzymes but it is unknown in chemocatalysis, still exclusively using only C(4a)-adducts. In our report, an ethylene-bridged biomimetic flavin has been shown to participate in the Mitsunobu esterification reaction as an alternative to dialkyl azodicarboxylate. The reaction occurs via a flavin N(5)-triphenylphosphane adduct and is catalytic from the point of view of the flavin, which is regenerated by oxygen. This approach distinguishes from other catalytic Mitsunobu reaction procedures which require an extra catalytic system.