Nickel/photoredox-catalyzed enantioselective arylation of -chloro thioesters

The first dual nickel/photoredox-catalyzed enantioselective reductive cross-coupling of racemic alpha-chloro thioesters with aryl iodides has been developed. This strategy avoids the need for organometallic reagents or stoichiometric metal reductants. This reaction could tolerate a wide range of substrate scope with excellent reactivity and high enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) to access a variety of chiral alpha-aryl thioesters. The synthetic utility of the corresponding alpha-aryl thioesters is demonstrated. Furthermore, we explored the mechanism of such an enantioselective radical cross-coupling process. The first dual nickel/photoredox-catalyzed enantioselective reductive cross-coupling of racemic alpha-chloro thioesters with aryl iodides has been developed.