A photochemical halogen-atom-transfer pathway for the carboxylation of alkenes with CO2

Abstract

A visible-light-induced carboxylation of styrenes using CO₂ that proceeds via a halogen-atom-transfer pathway using alkyl iodides as a promoter has been developed. Alkyl iodides, reagents that are challenging to react under photoredox conditions, and CO₂ could be assembled into electron-deficient styrenes for the synthesis of aryl acetic acids. The late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules showed the synthetic utility of the halogen-atom-transfer system.