Visible-light-driven C(sp2)-H arylation of phenols with arylbromides enabled by electron donor-acceptor excitation

Chem Commun (Camb). 2022 Mar 15;58(22):3637-3640. doi: 10.1039/d1cc07127k.

Abstract

We have developed a catalyst-free visible-light-driven C(sp2)-H arylation of unprotected phenols with arylbromides to give 2-arylated phenols. This reaction proceeds through the excitation of an electron donor-acceptor complex between a phenolate and an arylbromide, electron transfer, and debrominative C(sp2)-C(sp2) coupling.