Divergent Photocatalytic Reactions of α-Ketoesters under Triplet Sensitization and Photoredox Conditions

The long-lived triplet excited states of transition metal photocatalysts can activate organic substrates via either energy-or electron-transfer pathways, and the rates of these processes can be influenced by rational tuning of the reaction conditions. The characteristic reactive intermediates generated, however, are distinct and can exhibit very different reactivity patterns. This mechanistic diversity available to photocatalytic reactions might thus offer an opportunity to engineer divergent reactions that give markedly different chemical outcomes under superficially similar conditions. Herein, we show that the photocatalytic reactions of benzoylformate esters with alkenes can be directed toward either Paterno-Buchi cydoadditions or allylic functionalization reactions under conditions favoring energy transfer or electron transfer, respectively. These studies provide a framework for designing other divergent photocatalytic methods that produce different sets of reaction outcomes under photoredox and triplet sensitization conditions.