Data‐Driven Approach to Understanding Tetrabutylammonium Decatungstate‐Catalyzed C(sp <sup>3</sup> )–H Functionalization Selectivity

ABSTRACT Photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) has emerged as a powerful strategy for selective C(sp 3 )–C bond formation. Among these systems, photocatalyst tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) has drawn attention for its ability to functionalize electron‐rich C–H bonds via polar and steric control, often achieving highly regioselective outcomes. While these principles explain outcomes in simple scaffolds, translating them to understand regioselectivity in more complex molecules remains a central challenge. Here, we integrate electronic and steric descriptors to analyze the factors governing regioselectivity. The strong association of radical‐based descriptors with observed selectivity trends motivates targeted mechanistic experiments to probe the extent to which catalyst‐controlled hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) versus radical‐controlled addition governs regioselectivity. Deuterium‐labeling studies reinforce that TBADT's HAA accessibility is broad across electronically similar C–H bonds. Kinetic analyses further establish that SOMO energy directly correlates with radical addition (RA) rates, showing that product distributions are funneled through frontier orbital control. Together, these results define the kinetic principles of radical sampling in TBADT‐mediated functionalization, where HAA accessibility is broad, and RA kinetics further shape regioselective outcomes. Logistic regression analysis further demonstrates the value of mechanistically rich features in predicting site selectivity across complex molecular scaffolds.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-05-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.8014515
Primary Topic
Radical Photochemical Reactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Data‐Driven Approach to Understanding Tetrabutylammonium Decatungstate‐Catalyzed C(sp 3 )–H Functionalization Selectivity

Makeda A. Tekle‐Smith, Mimi Lavin
Angewandte Chemie
Radical Photochemical Reactions
article

Data‐Driven Approach to Understanding Tetrabutylammonium Decatungstate‐Catalyzed C(sp 3 )–H Functionalization Selectivity

Makeda A. Tekle‐Smith, Mimi Lavin
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) has emerged as a powerful strategy for selective C(sp 3 )–C bond formation. Among these systems, photocatalyst tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) has drawn attention for its ability to functionalize electron‐rich C–H bonds via polar and steric control, often achieving highly regioselective outcomes. While these principles explain outcomes in simple scaffolds, translating them to understand regioselectivity in more complex molecules remains a central challenge. Here, we integrate electronic and steric descriptors to analyze the factors governing regioselectivity. The strong association of radical‐based descriptors with observed selectivity trends motivates targeted mechanistic experiments to probe the extent to which catalyst‐controlled hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) versus radical‐controlled addition governs regioselectivity. Deuterium‐labeling studies reinforce that TBADT's HAA accessibility is broad across electronically similar C–H bonds. Kinetic analyses further establish that SOMO energy directly correlates with radical addition (RA) rates, showing that product distributions are funneled through frontier orbital control. Together, these results define the kinetic principles of radical sampling in TBADT‐mediated functionalization, where HAA accessibility is broad, and RA kinetics further shape regioselective outcomes. Logistic regression analysis further demonstrates the value of mechanistically rich features in predicting site selectivity across complex molecular scaffolds.

Angewandte Chemie
Columbia University (US)
National Science Foundation, Columbia University, National Institutes of Health
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Radical Photochemical Reactions
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Data‐Driven Approach to Understanding Tetrabutylammonium Decatungstate‐Catalyzed C(sp <sup>3</sup> )–H Functionalization Selectivity — Makeda A. Tekle‐Smith, Mimi Lavin · Angewandte Chemie (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS