Development of Bronsted Base-Photocatalyst Hybrid Systems for Highly Efficient C-C Bond Formation Reactions of Malonates with Styrenes

Bronsted base-photocatalyst hybrid systems have been developed for reactions of malonates with styrene derivatives. The concept of this process lies in the photo-oxidation of catalytic amounts of the enolate to form reactive radicals that react with alkene double bonds under mild reaction conditions. This is an example of visible-light-activated C-C bond formation reactions of malonates with alkenes to realize high atom economy under very mild reaction conditions without using any transition-metal catalysts.