Stereoselective Photoredox Catalyzed (3+3) Dipolar Cycloaddition of Nitrone with Aryl Cyclopropane

Abstract

By resorting to the principle of remote activation, we herein demonstrate the first photoredox catalyzed (3+3) dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones with aryl cyclopropanes. Key to the fidelity of the reaction resides in a facile manner of substrate activation by single‐electron transfer (SET) oxidation with photoredox catalysis, and the reaction takes place through a stepwise cascade encompassing a three‐electron‐type nucleophilic substitution triggered cyclopropane ring‐opening and a diastereoselective 6‐endo‐trig radical cyclization manifold. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity, nicely complementing the well‐developed Lewis acid catalyzed cycloaddition of donor‐acceptor cyclopropanes. Other merits of the protocol include wide scope of aryl cyclopropanes with diversified substitution patterns and good functional‐group compatibility. A mechanism involving an aryl radical cation promoted remote activation mode was also proposed and supported by mechanistic experiments.