title: Enantiospecific synthesis of vicinal stereogenic tertiary and quaternary centers by combination of configurationally-trapped radical pairs in crystalline solids.
abstract: [reaction: see text] Photochemical irradiation of crystalline (2R,4S)-2-carbomethoxy-4-cyano-2,4-diphenyl-3-butanone 1 led to highly efficient decarbonylation reactions. Experiments with optically pure and racemic crystals showed that the intermediate radical pairs undergo a highly diastereo- and enantiospecific radical-radical combination that leads to the formation of two adjacent stereogenic centers in good chemical yield and with high chemical control. Reactions with chiral crystals occurred with quantitative enantiomeric yields and >95% diastereomeric yields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, USA.
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Hung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Garibay