Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Initiation of Radical Thiol-Ene Reactions Using Bismuth Oxide

A nontoxic and inexpensive photocatalytic initiation of anti-Markovnikov hydrothiolation of olefins using visible light is reported. This method is characterized by low catalyst loading, thereby enabling a mild and selective method for radical initiation in thiol-ene reactions between a wide scope of olefins and thiols.