Identification of Bond-Weakening Spirosilane Catalyst for Photoredox α-C−H Alkylation of Alcohols

Abstract

The development of catalyst-controlled site-selective C(sp3)−H functionalization is a current major challenge in organic synthesis. This paper describes DFT-guided identification of pentavalent silicate species as a novel bond-weakening catalyst for the α-C−H bonds of alcohols together with a photoredox catalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer catalyst. Specifically, Martin's spirosilane accelerated α-C−H alkylation of alcohols. (Figure presented.).