Photocatalytic 1,2-oxo-alkylation reaction of styrenes with diazoacetates.

We report on the photocatalytic 1,2-difunctionalization reaction of styrenes with acceptor-only diazoalkanes. In the presence of DABCO and t BuOOH, the carbene reactivity of diazoalkanes can be suppressed and a 1,2 oxo-alkylation reaction can be achieved (32 examples, up to 94% yield) without the formation of cyclopropane by-products via the formation of radical intermediates from ethyl diazoacetate.