Direct, Site-Selective and Redox-Neutral alpha-C-H Bond Functionalization of Tetrahydrofurans via Quantum Dots Photocatalysis

As one of the most ubiquitous bulk reagents available, the intrinsic chemical inertness of tetrahydrofuran (THF) makes direct and site-selective C(sp(3))-H bond activation difficult, especially under redox neutral condition. Here, we demonstrate that semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) can activate alpha-C-H bond of THF via forming QDs/THF conjugates. Under visible light irradiation, the resultant alkoxyalkyl radical directly engages in radical cross-coupling with alpha-amino radical from amino C-H bonds or radical addition with alkene or phenylacetylene, respectively. In contrast to stoichiometric oxidant or hydrogen atom transfer reagents required in previous studies, the scalable benchtop approach can execute alpha-C-H bond activation of THF only by a QD photocatalyst under redox-neutral condition, thus providing a broad of value added chemicals starting from bulk THFs reagent.