22 January 2024 | Wen-Jie Kang, Yanbin Zhang, Bo Li, Hao Guo
This study explores the electrophotocatalytic hydrogenation of imines and reductive functionalization of aryl halides using a closed-shell thioxanthone-hydrogen anion species (TFOH). The system is designed to generate a potent and long-lived reductant, which can be photochemically converted under electrochemical conditions. TFOH regulates the redox potential of the active species, allowing for efficient hydrogenation of imines at low potential and effective reductive functionalization of aryl halides without the need for additional reducing agents. The mechanism involves two-electron reduction of precatalyst 1 to form the closed-shell anion species 3, which is excited by visible light to generate a potent reducing species 4. This species reduces the imine substrate through a π-π stacking-assisted formal intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. The method is versatile, achieving high yields for a wide range of imine and aryl halide substrates, including those with sensitive functional groups. The study demonstrates the potential of 2e- EPC as a platform for broadening catalyst applications and developing new methodologies in organic synthesis.This study explores the electrophotocatalytic hydrogenation of imines and reductive functionalization of aryl halides using a closed-shell thioxanthone-hydrogen anion species (TFOH). The system is designed to generate a potent and long-lived reductant, which can be photochemically converted under electrochemical conditions. TFOH regulates the redox potential of the active species, allowing for efficient hydrogenation of imines at low potential and effective reductive functionalization of aryl halides without the need for additional reducing agents. The mechanism involves two-electron reduction of precatalyst 1 to form the closed-shell anion species 3, which is excited by visible light to generate a potent reducing species 4. This species reduces the imine substrate through a π-π stacking-assisted formal intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. The method is versatile, achieving high yields for a wide range of imine and aryl halide substrates, including those with sensitive functional groups. The study demonstrates the potential of 2e- EPC as a platform for broadening catalyst applications and developing new methodologies in organic synthesis.