Facile Thiol-Ene Click Protocol Using Benzil as Sensitizer and White LED as Light Source

The thiol-ene reaction leading to a series of thioether derivatives by simple metal and oxidant free visible light promoted photosensitized protocol, following anti-Markonikov hydrothiolation of unactivated aryl and alkyl olefins at room temperature is demonstrated. Benzil served as a green photosensitizer in this reaction and white LED lights as a light source. This radical based thiol-ene reaction is operationally simple and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups present in olefins.