Photoredox Activation of Inert Alkyl Chlorides for the Reductive Cross-Coupling with Aromatic Alkenes

The photoredox activation of inert chloroalkanes for the cross-coupling reaction with olefins, with a broad functional group tolerance under mild conditions is presented. By combining UV/Vis spectroscopy, EPR, radical clock and deuterium-labelling experiments, [Ni(Py₂^Tstacn)]⁺ is proposed to be catalytically competent to activate the Csp³−Cl bond, forming a free radical, which reacts with the alkene.