A General Strategy for Organocatalytic Activation of C-H Bonds via Photoredox Catalysis: Direct Arylation of Benzylic Ethers

Direct C-H functionalization and arylation of benzyl ethers has been accomplished via photoredox organocatalysis. The productive merger of a thiol catalyst and a commercially available iridium photoredox catalyst in the presence of household light directly affords benzylic arylation products in good to excellent yield. The utility of this methodology is further demonstrated in direct arylation of 2,5-dihydrofuran to form a single regioisomer.