Synthesis of 2-Arylpyridines and 2-Arylbipyridines via Photoredox-Induced Meerwein Arylation with in Situ Diazotization of Anilines.

We report herein a sustainable method for the preparation of 2-arylpyridines through C-H arylation of pyridines using in situ formed diazonium salts (from commercially available aromatic amines) in the presence of a photoredox catalyst under blue light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. The reaction is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups (e.g., halogen, nitrile, formyl, acetyl, ester). Applications to the C-H bond arylation of bipyridine ligands is also presented.