Uncovering the Reactivity of Direct Photoredox Catalyzed α-C–H Alkylation of Alcohols: A Boron-Free Procedure

Alcohol functionalization is an important class of pharmaceutically relevant transformations that have increasingly been achieved through photoredox-hydrogen atom transfer catalysis. Many methods rely on exogenous bond-weakening activators such as boron-based catalysts. Herein, a reported hemiboronic acid catalyst was shown to dynamically interact with alcohols, however, with no effect on the efficiency or stereoselectivity of the α-C–H alkylation of alcohols. A simplified procedure affords products in yields of 18–95% without a boron cocatalyst.