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Spin‐Selective Generation of Triplet Nitrenes: Olefin Aziridination through Visible‐Light Photosensitization of Azidoformates
Author(s) -
Scholz Spencer O.,
Farney Elliot P.,
Kim Sangyun,
Bates Desiree M.,
Yoon Tehshik P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201510868
Subject(s) - nitrene , photochemistry , chemistry , amination , olefin fiber , enol , alkene , allylic rearrangement , reagent , singlet state , diradical , organic chemistry , excited state , polymer , catalysis , physics , nuclear physics
Azidoformates are interesting potential nitrene precursors, but their direct photochemical activation can result in competitive formation of aziridination and allylic amination products. Herein, we show that visible‐light‐activated transition‐metal complexes can be triplet sensitizers that selectively produce aziridines through the spin‐selective photogeneration of triplet nitrenes from azidoformates. This approach enables the aziridination of a wide range of alkenes and the formal oxyamination of enol ethers using the alkene as the limiting reagent. Preparative‐scale aziridinations can be easily achieved under continuous‐flow conditions.