10.1021/acs.orglett.8b01085
The study presents a metal-free photoredox C?H alkylation of heteroaromatics using hypervalent iodine dicarboxylates and an organic photocatalyst, 9-mesityl-10-methyl acridinium (MesAcr), under blue LED light. The method leverages readily available carboxylic acids as coupling partners and operates under mild conditions at room temperature. Key chemicals include bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene (PIFA) as the oxidant, which helps avoid complications from forming undesired alkylated products and eliminates the need for additional trifluoroacetic acid. The study explores the scope of various carboxylic acids, which generate different alkyl radicals (primary, secondary, tertiary) under the reaction conditions, and tests a range of heteroaromatics and complex molecules, including drugs like voriconazole, varenicline, and quinine, demonstrating good functional group tolerance. Mechanistic investigations, including control experiments, photophysical studies, and DFT calculations, suggest a distinct reaction mechanism involving a chain reaction with a low quantum yield, likely due to an inefficient initiation step.