Visible-Light-Mediated Additive-Free Decarboxylative Ketonization Reaction of Acrylic Acids: An Access to α-Thiocyanate Ketones.

Visible-light-mediated additive-free decarboxylative functionalization of acrylic acids has been developed. The reaction uses inexpensive organic dye 9,10-dicyanoanthracene as a photocatalyst and uses the ubiquitous dioxygen as both an oxygen source and an oxidant. Through this mild and environmentally friendly method, a series of important α-thiocyanate ketones can be generated from easily available acrylic acids and ammonium thiocyanate. In addition, the facile transformation of product α-thiocyanate ketones makes this method have great potential for application in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Visible-Light-Induced Beckmann Rearrangement by Organic Photoredox Catalysis.

A facile and general strategy for efficient direct conversion of oximes to amides using an inexpensive organic photocatalyst and visible light is described. This radical Beckmann rearrangement can be performed under mild conditions. Various alkyl aryl ketoximes and diaryl ketoximes can be effectively converted into the corresponding amides in excellent yields.

An Electrochemical Beckmann Rearrangement: Traditional Reaction via Modern Radical Mechanism.

Electrosynthesis as a potential means of introducing heteroatoms into the carbon framework is rarely studied. Herein, the electrochemical Beckmann rearrangement, i. e. the direct electrolysis of ketoximes to amides, is presented for the first time. Using a constant current as the driving force, the reaction can be easily carried out under neutral conditions at room temperature. Based on a series of mechanistic studies, a novel radical Beckmann rearrangement mechanism is proposed. This electrochemical Beckmann rearrangement does not follow the trans-migration rule of the classical Beckmann rearrangement.