Visible light-promoted umpolung coupling of aryl tri-/difluoroethanones with 2-alkenylpyridines

Tertiary alcohols bearing a trifluoromethyl group are of considerable medicinal interest. Using an umpolung strategy, we herein report the first intermolecular reductive cross-coupling of aryl tri-/difluoroethanones with 2-alkenylpyridines with the aid of a BrOnsted acid catalyst upon visible-light irradiation. This metal-free reaction is operationally simple and performed at ambient temperature, allowing access to desired tertiary alcohols with tri-/difluoromethyl groups in moderate to excellent yields. The commercially available and easily handled Hantzsch ester effectively serves as an electron donor, as well as a hydrogen atom source.