Photocatalytic phosphine-mediated water activation for radical hydrogenation

The chemical activation of water would allow this earth-abundant resource to be transferred into value-added compounds, and is a topic of keen interest in energy research(1,2). Here, we demonstrate water activation with a photocatalytic phosphine-mediated radical process under mild conditions. This reaction generates a metal-free PR3-H2O radical cation intermediate, in which both hydrogen atoms are used in the subsequent chemical transformation through sequential heterolytic (H+) and homolytic (H-') cleavage of the two O-H bonds. The PR3-OH radical intermediate provides an ideal platform that mimics the reactivity of a 'free' hydrogen atom, and which can be directly transferred to closed-shell p systems, such as activated alkenes, unactivated alkenes, naphthalenes and quinoline derivatives. The resulting H adduct C radicals are eventually reduced by a thiol co-catalyst, leading to overall transfer hydrogenation of the p system, with the two H atoms of water ending up in the product. The thermodynamic driving force is the strong P=O bond formed in the phosphine oxide by-product. Experimental mechanistic studies and density functional theory calculations support the hydrogen atom transfer of the PR3-OH intermediate as a key step in the radical hydrogenation process.

Automated summary

Chemical activation of water is a hot topic in energy research and enables the conversion of this abundant resource into valuable compounds. In this study, we demonstrate the activation of water using a photocatalytic phosphine-mediated radical process, which involves sequential heterolytic and homolytic cleavage of O-H bonds. The resulting PR3-OH radical intermediate can react with various closed-shell p systems, leading to transfer hydrogenation of the p system and incorporation of hydrogen atoms from water into the product. Experimental and theoretical studies support the importance of the hydrogen atom transfer step in this radical hydrogenation process.