Visible-Light-Mediated Dual Activation of Amino Acids for α-Selective Deaminative Esterification
Abstract
The nature-mimetic valorization of renewable biomass into value-added chemicals is a cornerstone to achieve a circular chemical economy. Here, an organophotoredox-catalyzed regioselective deaminative esterification of amino acids at the α-position under visible-light irradiation at room temperature is disclosed. The amino acid-derived Katritzky salt undergoes a homolytic cleavage to generate an alkyl radical, which combines with the carboxyl radical generated from an aromatic/aliphatic/amino acid through a single-electron oxidation of the corresponding cesium carboxylate, furnishing the α-ester product in high yields. Intriguingly, an EDA complex with the electron-deficient pyridinium salt and NaI is formed in situ to forge C–O bonds.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Radical Photochemical Reactions
Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
Organoboron and organosilicon chemistry
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Organic Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- 7104–7110
- Publication date
- 1 June 2026
- Language
- EN