Easy access to secondary and tertiary alcohols via metal-free and light mediated radical carbonyl allylation

Abstract

Here we report a strategy for carbonyl addition with unactivated alkenes using an organic photocatalyst on both aldehyde and ketone substrates. This protocol grants us a good alternative to the traditional Barbier–Grignard allylation that exhibits poor functional group tolerance. With this method the stoichiometric use of metals can be avoided, high atom economy can be achieved and fewer by-products are generated.