Photoinitiated carbonyl-metathesis: deoxygenative reductive olefination of aromatic aldehydes via photoredox catalysis

Carbonyl–carbonyl olefination, known as McMurry reaction, represents a powerful strategy for the construction of olefins. However, catalytic variants that directly couple two carbonyl groups in a single reaction are less explored. Here, we report a photoredox-catalysis that uses B(2)pin(2) as terminal reductant and oxygen trap allowing for deoxygenative olefination of aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions. This strategy provides access to a diverse range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkenes with moderate to high yield (up to 83%) and functional-group tolerance. To follow the reaction pathway, a series of experiments were conducted including radical inhibition, deuterium labelling, fluorescence quenching and cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, NMR studies and DFT calculations were combined to detect and analyze three active intermediates: a cyclic three-membered anionic species, an α-oxyboryl carbanion and a 1,1-benzyldiboronate ester. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism for the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond generation involving a sequential radical borylation, “bora-Brook” rearrangement, B(2)pin(2)-mediated deoxygenation and a boron-Wittig process.