A transition-metal-free Heck-type reaction between alkenes and alkyl iodides enabled by light in water

Abstract

A transition-metal-free coupling protocol between various alkenes and non-activated alkyl iodides has been developed by using photoenergy in water for the first time. Under UV irradiation and basic aqueous conditions, various alkenes efficiently couple with a wide range of non-activated alkyl iodides. A tentative mechanism, which involves an atom transfer radical addition process, for the coupling is proposed.