Cation Radical Accelerated Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution via Organic Photoredox Catalysis.
Nicholas E S TayDavid A NicewiczPublished in: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2017)
Nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) is a direct method for arene functionalization; however, it can be hampered by low reactivity of arene substrates and their availability. Herein we describe a cation radical-accelerated nucleophilic aromatic substitution using methoxy- and benzyloxy-groups as nucleofuges. In particular, lignin-derived aromatics containing guaiacol and veratrole motifs were competent substrates for functionalization. We also demonstrate an example of site-selective substitutive oxygenation with trifluoroethanol to afford the desired trifluoromethylaryl ether.