Merger of Visible Light Induced Oxidation and Enantioselective Alkylation with a Chiral Iridium Catalyst

Abstract

A single chiral octahedral iridium(III) complex is used for visible light activated asymmetric photoredox catalysis. In the presence of a conventional household lamp and under an atmosphere of air, the oxidative coupling of 2-acyl-1-phenylimidazoles with N,N-diaryl-N-(trimethylsilyl)methylamines provides aminoalkylated products in 61-93 % yields with high enantiomeric excess (90-98 % ee). Notably, the iridium center simultaneously serves three distinct functions: as the exclusive source of chirality, as the catalytically active Lewis acid, and as a central part of the photoredox sensitizer. This conceptionally simple reaction Scheme may provide new avenues for the green synthesis of non-racemic chiral molecules.