In this review, we highlight the use of organic photoredox catalysts in a myriad of synthetic transformations with a range of applications. This overview is arranged by catalyst class where the photophysics and electrochemical characteristics of each is discussed to underscore the differences and advantages to each type of single electron redox agent. We highlight both net reductive and oxidative as well as redox neutral transformations that can be accomplished using purely organic photoredox-active catalysts. An overview of the basic photophysics and electron transfer theory is presented in order to provide a comprehensive guide for employing this class of catalysts in photoredox manifolds.

Organic Photoredox Catalysis

Stronger Brønsted acids

BINOL: A Versatile Chiral Reagent

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Cyclization and Cycloaddition Reactions

Quaternary carbon stereocentres-carbon atoms to which four distinct carbon substituents are attached-are common features of molecules found in nature. However, before recent advances in chemical catalysis, there were few methods of constructing single stereoisomers of this important structural motif. Here we discuss the many catalytic enantioselective reactions developed during the past decade for the synthesis of single stereoisomers of such organic molecules. This progress now makes it possible to incorporate quaternary stereocentres selectively in many organic molecules that are useful in medicine, agriculture and potentially other areas such as flavouring, fragrances and materials.

https://escholarship.org/content/qt1vw785m6/qt1vw785m6.pdf?t=q5l4qa

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of quaternary carbon stereocentres

This paper describes a new artificial cyclase, optically pure 3-o-fluorobenzyloxy-2-hydroxy-2'-(p-methoxybemzyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl.SnCl4, which is effective for the enantioselective cyclization of 2-(polyprenyl)phenol derivatives to afford polycyclic terpenoids bearing a chroman skeleton such as (-)-chromazonarol, (+)-8-epi-puupehedione, a key synthetic intermediate of (+)-wiedendiol, and (-)-11'-deoxytaondiol methyl ether.

A new artificial cyclase for polyprenoids: enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-chromazonarol, (+)-8-epi-puupehedione, and (-)-11'-deoxytaondiol methyl ether.

An enantio- and diastereoselective stepwise cyclization of polyprenoids induced by Lewis acid-assisted chiral Bronsted acids (chiral LBAs) and achiral LBAs is described. In particular, the absolute stereocontrol in the initial cyclization of polyprenoids to form an A-ring induced by chiral LBAs and the importance of the nucleophilicity of the internal terminator in polyprenoids for the relative stereocontrol in subsequent cyclization are demonstrated. (−)-Ambrox was synthesized via the enantioselective cyclization of (E,E)-homofarnesyl triethylsilyl ether with tin(IV) chloride-coordinated (R)-2-(o-fluorobenzyloxy)-2‘-hydroxy-1,1‘-binaphthyl ((R)-BINOL-o-FBn) and subsequent diastereoselective cyclization with CF3CO2H·SnCl4 as key steps. Protection of (E,E)-homofarnesol by a triethylsilyl group increased the enantioselectivity of chiral LBA-induced cyclization and both the chemical yield and diastereoselectivity in the subsequent cyclization. The enantioselective cyclization of homo(polyprenyl)arenes posses...

Enantio- and diastereoselective stepwise cyclization of polyprenoids induced by chiral and achiral LBAs. A new entry to (-)-ambrox, (+)-podocarpa-8,11,13-triene diterpenoids, and (-)-tetracyclic polyprenoid of sedimentary origin.

Enantioselective Biomimetic Cyclization of Homo(polyprenyl)arenes. A New Entry to (+)-Podpcarpa-8,11,13-triene Diterpenoids and (−)-Tetracyclic Polyprenoid of Sedimentary Origin

The Lewis acid–assisted chiral Bronsted acids (chiral LBAs), which are prepared from tin tetrachloride and optically active binaphthol derivatives, are highly effective chiral proton donor reagents for enantioselective protonation and biomimetic polyene cyclization. These chiral LBAs can directly protonate various silyl enol ethers and ketene disilyl acetals to give the corresponding α-aryl or α-halo ketones and α-arylcarboxylic acids, respectively, with high enantiomeric excess (up to 98% ee). A catalytic version of enantioselective protonation was also achieved using stoichiometric amounts of 2,6-dimethylphenol and catalytic amounts of monomethyl ether of optically active binaphthol in the presence of tin tetrachloride. The biomimetic cyclization of simple isoprenoids to polycyclic isoprenoids using chiral LBA is also described. This is the first example of a chiral Bronsted acid–induced enantioselective ene cyclization in synthetic chemistry. Geranyl phenyl ethers, o-geranylphenols, and homogeranylphenol derivatives were directly cyclized in the presence of (R)-binaphthol derivatives and tin tetrachloride (up to 90% ee). Compounds bearing a farnesyl group could also be cyclized under the same conditions to give the natural products (−)-ambrox® and (−)-chromazonarol, and (−)-tetracyclic polyprenoids of sedimentary origin. These chiral LBAs recognize the prochiral face of a trisubstituted terminal olefin and site selectively generate carbocations on the substrates. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 2: 177–188,2002: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.10020

Hideaki Ishibashi

Papers

A new artificial cyclase for polyprenoids: enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-chromazonarol, (+)-8-epi-puupehedione, and (-)-11'-deoxytaondiol methyl ether.

Enantio- and diastereoselective stepwise cyclization of polyprenoids induced by chiral and achiral LBAs. A new entry to (-)-ambrox, (+)-podocarpa-8,11,13-triene diterpenoids, and (-)-tetracyclic polyprenoid of sedimentary origin.

Enantioselective Biomimetic Cyclization of Homo(polyprenyl)arenes. A New Entry to (+)-Podpcarpa-8,11,13-triene Diterpenoids and (−)-Tetracyclic Polyprenoid of Sedimentary Origin

Chiral proton donor reagents: tin tetrachloride--coordinated optically active binaphthol derivatives.

Biomimetic Synthesis of Acid-Sensitive (−)-Caparrapi Oxide and (+)-8-Epicaparrapi Oxide Induced by Artificial Cyclases