Radical-mediated sulfonyl alkynylation, allylation, and cyanation of propellane

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) is widely applied as the bioisostere for aryl, internal alkynes, and tert-butyl groups in medicinal chemistry. We herein disclose an efficient and practical preparation of sulfonyl alkynyl/allyl/cyano-substituted BCP derivatives through a novel radical-mediated difunctionalization of propellane. The radical alkynylation, allylation, and cyanation processes readily proceed under mild photochemical conditions. The synthetic method features broad functional group tolerance, high product diversity, gram-scale preparation, and excellent atom-economy.