Activation of Aryl and Alkyl Halides Enabled by Strong Photoreduction Potentials of a Hantzsch Ester/Cs 2 CO 3 System.

We disclose herein a light-induced Hantzsch ester-initiated aryl and alkyl radical generation protocol from aryl halides (Br and Cl) and alkyl iodides. This method provides access to a wide range of benzo-fused heterocycles and C(sp 3 )-C(sp 3 ) coupling products. The reductive detosylation reaction has also been demonstrated using the same reaction conditions. Initial mechanism studies provide evidence of the formation of an alkyl radical.