The construction of trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon centers and tertiary alcohols
is realized by organo-photoredox catalysis. The process proceeds via visible-light-induced
C(sp3)–Si bond cleavage for the generation of α-trifluoromethylated benzyl radicals, which
are readily trapped by electron-deficient alkenes with excellent regioselectivity
for the construction of trifluoromethylated quaternary all-carbon centers. The α-difluoromethyl
counterparts are also suitable for this radical conjugate addition. Furthermore, the
in situ oxidation of these α-trifluoromethylated radicals with O2 from air affords tertiary alcohols in high yields, which extends the Fleming–Tamao
reaction to tertiary carbon systems.
Key words
visible-light-induced - trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon centers - tertiary alcohols
- C(sp
3)–Si bond cleavage - transition-metal-free