A practical approach to radical C-H bond functionalization by the photolysis of a hypervalent iodine(iii) reagent is presented. The photolysis of [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene (PIFA) leads to the generation of trifluoroacetoxy radicals, which allows the smooth transformation of various alkylbenzenes to the corresponding benzyl ester compounds under mild reaction conditions.

In contrast to the well-known [2 + 2] photocycloadditions between C═O and C═C bonds, the participation of C═N bonds in such reactions is relatively rare. In this paper, the unprecedented UV-light-induced [2 + 2] cycloadditions between N-arylsulfonylimines and styrene derivatives or benzofurans are described. This photolytic reaction allows the highly stereoselective construction of azetidine derivatives under ambient conditions.

Benzyl esters are prepared by direct benzylic C—H bond esterification of alkylbenzenes by the combination of a hypervalent iodine reagent with visible light irradiation.