C−H aroylation reactions are potent synthetic strategies for the mild installation of aromatic ketone fragments present in natural products, pharmaceutical compounds, and semiconducting materials. The photochemical installation of these molecules, however, is frequently dependent on the use of pre-functionalized redox-active radical sources or iridium organometallic complexes. Recently, triarylamines have emerged as potent organic photocatalysts capable of accessing several synthetically beneficial radicals, yet aroylation reactions remain to be implemented into this triarylamine photocatalyst paradigm. Herein, we report the design and development of a visible-light methodology employing commercially available aroyl chlorides and triarylamines. Under metal-free conditions, this methodology showcases the redox-neutral, selective mono- or di-C−H functionalization of activated alkenes. Finally, we demonstrate the flexibility of this methodology via select radical cyclization and hydroaroylation examples.
Lasso et al. (Mon,) studied this question.