10.1021/jo902669j
The research explores the application of the photo-SN1 reaction on 4-chloroanilines under solar irradiation to develop a metal-free arylation method. The study aims to improve the environmental sustainability of arylations by using sunlight, more environmentally friendly solvents, and reducing the excess of trapping agents. The researchers optimized the reaction conditions using a solar simulator and then tested the reactions under direct sunlight. They found that the process could be scaled up to a gram scale with satisfactory yields, even with higher starting concentrations of halides and lower proportions of trapping agents. The study concludes that solar-induced photo-ArSN1 arylations are a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional metal-catalyzed arylations, with the added benefit of being powered by renewable solar energy. 4-Chloro-N,N-dimethylaniline (1a) serves as the starting material for generating the 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl cation upon irradiation. Mesitylene (2a) acts as a p-trap in the reaction. R-Methylstyrene (2b) is another nucleophile used in the study. Allyltrimethylsilane (2c) serves as a nucleophile in the reaction.
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