Volume 136, Issue 38 e202409222
Zuschrift

Asymmetric Paired Electrolysis: Enantioselective Alkylation of Sulfonylimines via C(sp3)−H Functionalization

Yongsheng Tao

Yongsheng Tao

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 P. R. China

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Wan Ma

Wan Ma

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 P. R. China

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Rui Sun

Rui Sun

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 P. R. China

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Cheng Huang

Cheng Huang

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 P. R. China

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Prof. Qingquan Lu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Qingquan Lu

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 P. R. China

Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000 P. R. China

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First published: 03 July 2024

Abstract

Enantioselective transformation of ubiquitous C(sp3)−H bonds into three-dimensional chiral scaffolds is of longstanding interest to synthetic chemists. Herein, an asymmetric paired electrolysis enables a highly efficient and sustainable approach to the enantioselective alkylation of sulfonylimines via C(sp3)−H functionalization. In this protocol, anodic oxidation for benzylic radical formation and Lewis acid-catalyzed sulfonylimine reduction on the cathode were seamlessly cross-coupled (up to 88 % yield). Enantioenriched chiral amines containing a tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenter are accessed with high enantioselectivity (up to 96 % ee). Mechanistic studies suggest that the amine generated in situ could serve as a base to deprotonate phenols and decrease the oxidation potential of the reaction, allowing phenols with lower potentials to be preferentially oxidized.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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