Readily available from esters and kektones, cyclopropanols are inclined to undergo diverse ring-opening reactions. Their one-electron oxidation is a conventional way to β-carbonyl radicals. However, despite this fact, their application as a coupling partner in dual photoredox and nickel-catalyzed reactions with organic halides remains underdeveloped. Here, we report that Ti(OiPr)4 additive enables this elusive cross-coupling with aryl and alkenyl bromides affording βsubstituted ketones.
2Nickel-catalyzed coupling of the photochemically generated alkyl radicals 1 with aryl, alkenyl or alkyl halides has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the C-C bond construction (Scheme 1A). 2 Proceeding under mild conditions, these reactions generally tolerate sensitive functional groups and moreover, can be deployed for the formation of an asymmetric setereocenter. 3 The scope of the radical precursors used in the coupling is exceptionally broad. After the pioneering reports on the arylation of organotrifluoroborates, aliphatic carboxylic acids and N,N-dimethylaniline by Molander 4 and MacMillan and Doyle, 5 various alternative coupling partners were utilized including alkylsylicates, 6 monoalkyl oxalates, 7 dihydropyridines, 8 , 9 alkyl halides, 10 alkanes, 11 oxiranes, 12 aziridines, 13 cycloalkanone oxyme-carboxylates, 14 N-hydroxyphthalimide esters, 15 Katritzky salts, 16 alkylsulfinate salts, 17 xanthate esters, 18 boracene-based alkyl borates, 19 linear 20 and cyclic alcohols. 21 Being a source of β-ketoradicals 3, 22 cyclopropanols 1 can also undergo the photoredox/nickel dual catalyzed reaction to provide β-substituted ketones (Scheme 1B). 21 However, scope of cyclopropanols that can be engaged in this coupling is rather narrow. Shenvi reported arylation and alkenylation of tricyclic silyloxycyclopropanes 4 promoted by an iridium photocatalyst and a nickel complex. 21a One of the obtained β-substituted ketones 5 was further efficiently applied in a concise synthesis of natural alkaloid GB-22. 21a Another example of the photoredox initiated ring-opening arylation was described by Rueping. 21b The presence of PMP group in 6 was crucial because the formation of alkoxy radical 2 was initiated by the one-electron oxidation of this moiety. Here, we report that limitations in the scope of photoredox and nickel dual-catalyzed cyclopropanol arylation and alkenylation can be overcome when the reaction is carried out in the presence of Ti(OiPr)4 as an additive. Under these conditions, β-substituted ketones 10 can be obtained from cyclopropanols 8 and aryl-or vinyl-bromides 9. cyclopropanols when carried out in the presence of Ti(OiPr)4 additive. The cross-coupling is compatible with functional groups including unprotected hydroxyl and proceeds under conditions mild enough for the preparation of enantiomerically pure ketones bearing a sensitive αstereocenter.ASSOCIATED CONTENT Supporting Information.