Enantioselective Radical Ring-Opening Cyanation of Oxime Esters by Dual Photoredox and Copper Catalysis

Catalytic enantioselective chemical reactions involving highly reactive radical species remain largely unexplored. We report herein for the first time a novel enantioselective radical ring-opening cyanation of redox-active oxime esters by dual photoreodox and copper catalysis. This mild protocol shows good functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope, producing a wide range of optically active alkyl dinitriles with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities, which are difficult to access traditionally.