Visible-Light-Mediated Charge Transfer Enables C-C Bond Formation with Traceless Acceptor Groups

The development and application of traceless acceptor groups in photochemical C-C bond formation is described. This strategy was enabled by the photoexcitation of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes with visible light. The traceless acceptors, which were readily prepared from amino acid and peptide feedstocks, could be used to alkylate a wide range of heteroarene and enamine donors under metal- and peroxide-free conditions. The crucial role of the EDA complexes in the mechanism of these reactions was explored through combined experimental and computational studies.