Dicarboxylation of Alkenes with CO2 and Formate via Photoredox Catalysis

Herein, a photocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of succinic acids by alkene dicarboxylation with carbon dioxide (CO2) and formate salt as synergistic carbon sources is described. The formate salt acts as both a C1 source and reductant in the reaction with catalytic amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a hydrogen atom transfer reagent. Various mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alkenes, acrylate, acrylamide, and indole derivatives could be converted to the corresponding diacids, which provided potential useful applications in medicinal chemistry and polymer industry.

Automated summary

In this study, a photocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of succinic acids from alkene dicarboxylation using carbon dioxide (CO2) and formate salt as synergistic carbon sources is described. The formate salt acts as both a C1 source and reductant in the reaction, with catalytic amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) serving as a hydrogen atom transfer reagent. Various alkene derivatives can be converted to diacids, which have potential applications in medicinal chemistry and polymer industry.