Volume 64, Issue 30 e202507789
Communication

Enantioconvergent Synthesis of α-Fluoroalkyl Alcohols Enabled by Photocatalytic Radical Brook Rearrangement

Yunhong Niu

Yunhong Niu

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Chenyu Jin

Chenyu Jin

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Xiaoqian He

Xiaoqian He

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

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Shenna Deng

Shenna Deng

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

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Gang Zhou

Gang Zhou

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

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Dr. Shanshan Liu

Dr. Shanshan Liu

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

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Prof. Dr. Xiao Shen

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Xiao Shen

The Institute for Advanced Studies, Engineering Research Center of Organosilicon Compounds & Materials, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

State Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Regulation in Complex Organisms, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China

Shenzhen Research Institute of Wuhan University, Shenzhen, 518057 China

E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 14 May 2025

Graphical Abstract

The first application of radical Brook rearrangement in asymmetric cross-coupling reaction has been developed, enabling enantioconvergent synthesis of chiral α-aryl-α-fluoroalkyl alcohols. The reaction proceeded through the combination of photocatalytic generation of masked ketyl radicals and Ni-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling with aryl/heteroaryl bromides. The the presence of para-methoxyphenyldimethylsilyl group lowers the oxidation potentials of the racemic alcohol substrates, enabling a radical relay process to form carbon-centered radicals from initial generation of the aryl cation radicals. The reaction features mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent enantioselectivity. The formal synthesis of bioactive Odanacatib and LX-1031 and various down-stream transformations demonstrated the synthetic potential of the reaction.

Abstract

While radical Brook rearrangement has emerged as a powerful strategy in modern organic synthesis, enantioselective cross coupling involving radical Brook rearrangement remains unexplored. Herein, we report a photocatalytic radical Brook rearrangement followed by cross-coupling with aryl/heteroaryl bromides, enabling the enantioconvergent construction of chiral α-fluoroalkyl alcohols. Key to this transformation is a radical relay process involving sequential generation of aryl cation radicals, alkoxy radicals, and carbon-centered radicals through Brook rearrangement. The reaction exhibits exceptional scope (>40 examples), outstanding enantiocontrol (up to 99% ee), and broad functional group tolerance. The synthetic utility is demonstrated through formal syntheses of bioactive Odanacatib and LX-1031, along with diverse downstream derivatizations.

Conflict of Interests

A patent based on this work has been applied, X.S., S.L., and Y.N. may benefit from the royalty payment.

Data Availability Statement

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

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.