Photocatalytic Carbanion Generation – Benzylation of Aliphatic
Aldehydes to Secondary Alcohols

Abstract

We present a redox-neutral method for the photocatalytic
generation of carbanions. Benzylic carboxylates are photooxidized by single electron transfer; immediate CO2 extrusion and reduction of the in situ formed radical yields a carbanion capable of reacting with aliphatic aldehydes as electrophiles giving the Grignard analogous reaction product.