Umpolung Difunctionalization of Carbonyls via Visible-Light Photoredox Catalytic Radical-Carbanion Relay

The combination of photoredox catalysis with the Wolff–Kishner (WK) reaction allows the difunctionalization of carbonyl groups by a radical-carbanion relay sequence (photo-Wolff–Kishner reaction). Photoredox initiated radical addition to N-sulfonylhydrazones yields α-functionalized carbanions following the WK-type mechanism. With sulfur-centered radicals, the carbanions are further functionalized by reaction with electrophiles including CO2 and aldehydes, whereas CF3 radical addition furnishes a wide range of gem-difluoroalkenes through β-fluoride elimination of the generated α-CF3 carbanions. More than 80 substrate examples demonstrate the broad applicability of this reaction sequence. A series of investigations including radical inhibition, deuterium labeling, fluorescence quenching, cyclic voltammetry, and control experiments support the proposed radical-carbanion relay mechanism.