Decarboxylative 1,4-Addition of α‑Oxocarboxylic Acids with Michael Acceptors Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Abstract

Enabled by iridium photoredox catalysis, 2-oxo-2-(hetero)­arylacetic acids were decarboxylatively added to various Michael acceptors including α,β-unsaturated ester, ketone, amide, aldehyde, nitrile, and sulfone at room temperature. The reaction presents a new type of acyl Michael addition using stable and easily accessible carboxylic acid to formally generate acyl anion through photoredox-catalyzed radical decarboxylation