Deoxygenative Reactions of Aldehydes Catalyzed by Iron Porphyrins

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Stereocontrolled radical reactions have emerged as powerful strategies for advancing stereoselective organic synthesis, yet radical transformations employing iron-based catalysts remain rare. Here, we report that iron porphyrins catalyze the deoxygenative transformations of aldehydes, affording alkenes via homocoupling or cyclopropanes through cross-coupling with styrene derivatives. These transformations are proposed to begin with the formation of a β -Fe(III)-alkoxy carbon radical from Fe(II) porphyrin and the aldehyde substrate, followed by a radical coupling and deoxygenation cascade.