Visible‐Light‐Mediated Charge Transfer Enables C− C Bond Formation with Traceless Acceptor Groups

Michael J James, Felix Strieth-Kalthoff, Frederik Sandfort, Felix JR Klauck, Felicitas Wagener, Frank Glorius

Abstract: The development and application of traceless acceptor groups in photochemical C−C bond formation is described. This strategy was enabled by the photoexcitation of electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes with visible light. The traceless acceptors, which were readily prepared from amino acid and peptide feedstocks, could be used to alkylate a wide range of heteroarene and enamine donors under metal‐ and peroxide‐free conditions. The crucial role of the EDA complexes in the mechanism of these reactions was explored through combined experimental and computational studies.