Copper‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Diastereoselective Dearomative Carbosilylation of Unactivated Arenes by Intercepting the Dienyl Radical

J Jialian Zheng (CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China) K Kuili Liang (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China) Z Zi‐Qing Li (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China) Z Zunsheng Chen (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China) J Jianzhong Lu (CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China) H He Zhang B Beibei Yi (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China) Q Quanzhe Li (CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China) Q Qiuling Yang (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China) J Jinrong Li Z Zhihan Zhang (Central China Normal University , , 152 Luoyu Road , , ,) G Guozhu Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China) R Rui Guo

Abstract

Abstract The radical‐mediated dearomatization of aromatic systems to generate cyclohexadienyl radical intermediates represents a crucial strategy for constructing three‐dimensional molecular architectures. Conventional approaches typically through ipso ‐addition and subsequent proton/oxygen/carbon dioxide trapping to suppress rapid re‐aromatization, significantly constraining product diversity. Furthermore, dearomative bifunctionalization reactions—which offer enhanced step‐ and atom‐economy—remain substantially underdeveloped. Herein, we disclose a copper‐catalyzed radical dearomative 1,4‐ and 1,2‐carbosilylation strategy applicable to diverse unactivated (hetero)aromatic substrates to selectively construct spiro‐ or fused‐cyclic products. The resulting vinyl and allylic silanes serve as versatile synthetic handles for downstream transformations, enabling the rapid construction of sp 3 ‐rich polycyclic scaffolds that are highly valuable in drug discovery. Mechanistic and DFT studies indicate that the reaction commences with copper(I)‐silicon‐mediated halogen atom transfer of readily available aryl iodides to generate aryl radicals. These reactive species exhibit dual pathways: direct ipso ‐addition to aromatic rings or 1,5‐hydrogen atom transfer followed by alkyl radical‐mediated ortho ‐addition. Subsequent trapping of the resulting dienyl radicals by copper(II)‐silicon species yields complex polycyclic systems containing cyclohexadienylsilicon frameworks with excellent chemo‐, regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. This methodology not only establishes a novel paradigm for copper‐catalyzed radical dearomative bifunctionalization but also provides an efficient radical ipso‐ and ortho ‐addition platform for synthesizing architecturally intricate polycyclic compounds.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 9
Published February 23, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (13)

J

Jialian Zheng

CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China

K

Kuili Liang

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China

Z

Zi‐Qing Li

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China

Z

Zunsheng Chen

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China

J

Jianzhong Lu

CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China

H

He Zhang

B

Beibei Yi

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China

Q

Quanzhe Li

CCNU-uOttawa Joint Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China

Q

Qiuling Yang

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction Ministry of Education College of Chemistry Central China Normal University (CCNU) 152 Luoyu Road Wuhan Hubei 430079 P.R. China

J

Jinrong Li

Z

Zhihan Zhang

Central China Normal University , , 152 Luoyu Road , , ,

G

Guozhu Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University (CCNU), 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P. R. China

R

Rui Guo