Regioselective Radical 1,4-Difunctionalization of 1,3-Cyclohexadiene via NHC Catalysis

1,4-Difunctionalized cyclohexane is not only a useful building block in organic synthesis but also represents an important structural motif in a wide range of bioactive molecules. Herein, we report an unprecedented NHC-catalyzed three-component radical 1,4-difuntionalization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with readily available materials, providing a new platform for the step-economical construction of an array of useful cyclohexenyl ketones. This protocol also features high regioselectivity, mild conditions with a metal-/photocatalyst-free reaction system, and ease of late-stage functionalization.