Photoinduced oxidative activation of electron-rich arenes: alkenylation with H2 evolution under external oxidant-free conditions

The dehydrogenative cross- coupling of arenes and alkenes is a particularly ideal approach for the synthesis of aryl alkenes. Herein, we report a photo- induced C-H/C-H cross- coupling between electron- rich arenes and styrene derivatives using a dual catalytic system containing an acridinium photosensitizer and a cobaloxime proton- reducing catalyst. This catalytic system enables the Csp(2)-Csp(2) bond formation accompanying H-2 evolution. Various substituted aryl alkenes can be afforded with good to excellent yields and high beta-regioselectivity.