Front Cover: Merging New and Old Concepts: Tandem Oxidative Radical-Polar Crossover Ritter Amidation via Multicomponent Photo- and Electrochemical Processes (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 45/2024)

Abstract

The Front Cover showcases the modernization of the Ritter reaction by photo- and electrochemical methods. Historically, carbocation intermediates in Ritter reactions are achieved under strongly acidic conditions that are functional group intolerant. The Review by C. Pratley, J. P. Barham and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202400840) describes modern radical methods to access carbocation intermediates that allow the expansion of Ritter chemistry to more complex molecules. Radical intermediates, generated photochemically or electrochemically, undergo oxidative radical polar crossover to carbocations that partake in Ritter chemistry to give amidated products. Oxidative radical polar crossover is the “knight's shining armour” (“Ritter” is German for “knight”). Image created by Sarah S. Coutts.