Photocatalytic α-Acylation of Ethers

Direct coupling of ethers and acyl halides was promoted by a binary catalytic Sytem comprising an Ir-based photocatalyst and a Ni complex under blue-light irradiation. Photocatalysts with high triplet energy directed the catalysis, and the reaction likely proceeded by triplet-triplet energy transfer from the excited photocatalysts. chlorine radicals generated from an excited Ni Complex bearing, a Ni-Cl bond would be responsible for generating alpha-oxy radicals leading to the alpha-acylated ethers.