Abstract
This account describes the latest developments on 3d-metal-catalyzed single-electron-transfer
(SET)-induced strategies that use carboxylic acids and their synthetic equivalents
as substrates. In general, 3d-metal-promoted SET-mediated transformations of free
carboxylic acids proceed readily via the formation of carboxylate radicals, whilst
those of carboxylic acid equivalents, bearing an N-donor substituent, proceed via
the formation of α-carbo radicals. The advantages of these strategies combine the
low-cost of carboxylic acid starting materials and 3d metal catalysts with the possibility
of realizing structurally diverse ranges of compounds in an atom- and step-economic
manner. Developments primarily achieved by our group and a few by other researchers
on this topic are discussed in this account.
1 Introduction
2 Mechanistic Considerations of 3d-Metal-Catalyzed SET-Mediated Transformations
3 Developments Based on SET-Mediated Transformations of Carboxylic Acids
4 Developments Based on SET-Mediated Transformations of Carboxylic Acid Equivalents
5 Conclusion and Outlook
Key words
carboxylic acid - single-electron transfer - radical reactions - copper - iron - cobalt
