Photoinduced Oxidative Alkoxycarbonylation of Alkenes with Alkyl Formates.

A photoinduced oxidative alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes initiated by intermolecular addition of alkoxycarbonyl radicals has been demonstrated. Employing alkyl formates as alkoxycarbonyl radical sources, a range of α,β-unsaturated esters were obtained with good regioselectivity and E selectivity under ambient conditions.