Synthesis of hydroxy acids via the light-driven carboxylation of epoxides with CO2

Light-driven ring-opening carboxylation of epoxides with CO2 provided β-hydroxy acids via sequential single electron transfer (SET), followed by reaction with CO2. This reaction condition was applicable to aryl epoxides and oxetanes with (hetero)polycyclic aromatics to give the corresponding β- and γ-hydroxy acids, respectively, with high chemoselectivity.