We disclose a new approach to the catalysis of alkane fluorination employing ultraviolet light and a photosensitizer, 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCB).

We explore in detail the iron-catalyzed benzylic fluorination of substrates containing aromatic rings and electron-withdrawing groups positioned β to one another, thus providing direct access to β-fluorinated adducts. This operationally convenient process can be thought of not only as a contribution to the timely problem of benzylic fluorination but also as a functional equivalent to a conjugate addition of fluoride, furnishing products in moderate to good yields and in excellent selectivity.

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of α-chiral olefins represents a valuable strategy for rapid generation of structural diversity in divergent syntheses of complex targets. Herein, we report a protocol for the dual CuH-and Pd-catalyzed asymmetric Markovnikov hydroalkenylation of vinyl arenes and the anti-Markovnikov hydroalkenylation of unactivated olefins, in which readily available enol triflates can be utilized as alkenyl coupling partners. This method allowed for the synthesis of diverse αchiral olefins, including tri-and tetrasubstituted olefin products, which are challenging to prepare by existing approaches.

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