Catalytic Deoxygenation of Unactivated 1,2-Diol Motifs via Light-Induced Spin-Center Shift

Abstract

Herein, we report a light-induced strategy that enables catalytic deoxygenation of unactivated aliphatic 1,2-diol derivatives via a spin-center shift (SCS) manifold. Divergent reactivity can be accomplished depending on the nature of the alkyl radical intermediate. Specifically, secondary alcohols result in α-deoxygenated ketones, whereas a tandem C–C bond-formation/spin-center shift can be promoted with primary alcohols instead in the presence of an appropriate radical acceptor, thus offering an unrecognized opportunity in the SCS arena for repurposing readily available, unactivated 1,2-diol derivatives.