Visible-Light-Induced Meerwein Fluoroarylation of Styrenes

An unprecedented approach for assembling a broad range of 1,2-diarylethane derivatives with fluorine-containing fully substituted carbon centers was developed. The protocol features straightforward operation, proceeds under metal-free condition, and accommodates a large variety of synthetically useful functionalities. The critical aspect to the success of this novel transformation lies in using aryldiazonium salts as both aryl radical progenitor and also as single electron acceptor which elegantly enables a radical-polar crossover manifold.

Automated summary

An unprecedented approach has been developed for assembling a wide range of 1,2-diarylethane derivatives with fluorine-containing fully substituted carbon centers. The key to the success of this novel transformation lies in using aryldiazonium salts as both aryl radical progenitor and single electron acceptor, enabling a radical-polar crossover manifold.