Visible Light Photoredox Cross-Coupling of Acyl Chlorides with Potassium Alkoxymethyltrifluoroborates: Synthesis of α-Alkoxyketones

A visible-light, single-electron-transfer (SET), photoredox cross-coupling for the synthesis of alpha-alkoxyketones has been developed. In this method, various aliphatic and aromatic acyl chlorides were successfully coupled with structurally diverse potassium alkoxymethyltrifluoroborates, producing the corresponding alpha-alkoxyketones with high yields. In this operationally simple and mild cross-coupling protocol, the desired ketones are obtained in one step from bench stable starting materials by a bond connection that is unique to both alkylboron chemistry and photoredox/Ni catalysis.