Diversification of Acridinium Photocatalysts: Property Tuning and Reactivity in Model Reactions

Herein, we describe the discovery and characterization of multiple N-(hetero)aryl, N-benzyl and N-alkyl derivatives of 9-mesityl-3,6-di-tert-butyl-10-phenyl acridinium photocatalyst. The catalytic performances of these catalysts as photo-oxidant or photo-reductant (via in situ generated acridine radical) were compared in three model reactions. We also identified improved catalytic conditions for a previous cyanoarene-catalyzed nucleophilic amination reaction using a synthesized N-cycloheptyl acridinium catalyst (up to 98 % yield).