Copper-Photocatalyzed Contra-Thermodynamic Isomerization of Polarized Alkenes.

The contra-thermodynamic isomerization of α- and β-substituted cinnamate derivatives catalyzed by the Cu(OAc)2/rac-BINAP complex under blue light irradiation is reported. The use of an oxazolidinone template, which favored the complexation of the copper catalyst to the substrate, allowed the E → Z isomerization of the catalytically formed chromophore under simple and robust reaction conditions in good to excellent ratios. The mechanism of this process based on the transient formation of a chromophore was also studied.