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Abstract

Interest in base metal catalysis motivates the development of Cu-based photoredox catalysts for organic synthesis. However, only a few Cu catalysts have been applied in photoredox reactions, the majority of which contain one or two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands. Here we design a 4,6-disubstituted 2,2'-bipyridine ligand for Cu. Two heteroleptic [Cu(N<^>N)(P<^>P)][PF6] complexes, where N<^>N stands for the 2,2'-bipyridine ligand and P<^>P stands for a bisphosphine ligand, have been synthesized and characterized. They exhibit longer excited state lifetimes and higher Cu(I) / Cu(II) potentials compared to the most widely used Cu catalyst, [Cu-(dap)(2)]Cl. The complex with Xantphos as the P<^>P ligand is an efficient catalyst for chlorotrifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes, especially styrenes, which had been challenging substrates for previously reported photoredox reactions. This chlorotrifluoromethylation method enables the convenient introduction of a trifluoromethyl group into organic molecules under mild conditions, which is important for medicinal chemistry.

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