A Novel Photochemical Approach to Synthetize APIs: The Use of Nitrogen- Centered Amidyl Radicals

The chemistry of radicals has developed extensively in recent years. Their appreciation in synthesis is related to the feasibility of few synthetic pathways which could be considered highly challenging or unapproachable if conventional methods are used. The traditional chemistry involves Pd-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig amination or Cu-catalyzed Ullman type coupling to form C-N bonds. However, high temperatures and pre-functionalized coupling partners are required to successfully provide the desired results [1]. N-centered radicals can be afforded and introduced onto the appropriated substrates under mild conditions via photoredox catalysis. The development of antibiotic resistance has dramatically increased over the last few decades. An efficient strategy against resistant human-pathogenic bacteria has been found to be the use of drugs acting as bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors, such as oxazolidinones, which were introduced into the clinic in the 1970s [2]. The toxicity issues of the class were overcome by two nontoxic molecules, linezolid and eperezolid, twenty years later. The SAR studies revealed how the N-aryl substituent is one of the essential factors for the pharmacological activity. My research work aimed to consider photocatalytically generated N-oxazolidinone radicals within the synthesis of different APIs.