Synthesis of 2,5-Diaryl-1,5-dienes from Allylic Bromides Using Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

Visible-light photoreductive coupling of 2-arylallyl bromides in the presence of the photocatalyst Ru(bpy)(3)(PF6)(2), a Hantzsch ester, and i-Pr2NEt gives 2,5-diaryl-1,5-dienes in high yield. This method avoids the use of stoichiometric metal reductants and is compatible with the presence of halogen, alkyl, electron-donating, and electron-withdrawing substituents on the aromatic ring.