A visible-light-promoted radical reaction system for azidation and halogenation of tertiary aliphatic C–H bonds

A highly tunable radical-mediated reaction system for the functionalization of tertiary aliphatic C–H bonds was developed. Reactions of various substrates with the Zhdankin azidoiodane reagent 1, Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂, and visible light irradiation at room temperature gave C–H azidated or halogenated products in an easily controllable fashion. These reactions are efficient, selective, and compatible with complex substrates. They provide a potentially valuable tool for selectively labeling tertiary C–H bonds of organic and biomolecules with tags of varied chemical and biophysical properties for comparative functional studies.