Potassium Thioacids Mediated Selective Amide and Peptide Constructions Enabled by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

A remarkable visible-light-promoted photoredox catalytic methodology involved with amines and eco-friendly potassium thioacids for amide formation was uncovered. This approach can mimic the natural coenzyme acetyl-CoA to selectively acylate amines without affecting other functional groups such as alcohols, phenols, esters, among others. The developed strategy may hold great potential for a comprehensive display of biologically interesting peptide synthesis and amino acid modification through a diacyl disulfide intermediate.