N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalytic reductive β,β-coupling reactions of nitroalkenes via radical intermediates.

An unprecedented N-heterocyclic carbene catalytic reductive β,β-carbon coupling of α,β-nitroalkenes, by using an organic substrate to mimic the one-electron oxidation role of the pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) in living systems, has been developed. The reaction goes through a radical anion intermediate generated under a catalytic redox process. For the first time, the presence of radical anion intermediate in NHC organocatalysis is observed and clearly verified.