Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Hydrocarbons by Noble-Metal-Free Hybrid Catalyst System

A hybrid catalysis that comprises an acridinium photoredox catalyst, a thiophosphate organocatalyst, and a nickel catalyst-enabled acceptorless dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons is reported. The cationic nickel complex played a critical role in the reactivity. This is the first example of acceptorless dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons by base metal catalysis under mild reaction conditions of visible light irradiation at room temperature.