Development of Brønsted Base–Photocatalyst Hybrid Systems for Highly Efficient C–C Bond Formation Reactions of Malonates with Styrenes

Brønsted base–photocatalyst hybrid systems have been developed for reactions of malonates with styrene derivatives. The concept of this process lies in the photo-oxidation of catalytic amounts of the enolate to form reactive radicals that react with alkene double bonds under mild reaction conditions. This is an example of visible-light-activated C–C bond formation reactions of malonates with alkenes to realize high atom economy under very mild reaction conditions without using any transition-metal catalysts.