Visible-light-driven C(sp 2 )-H arylation of phenols with arylbromides enabled by electron donor-acceptor excitation.

We have developed a catalyst-free visible-light-driven C(sp 2 )-H arylation of unprotected phenols with arylbromides to give 2-arylated phenols. This reaction proceeds through the excitation of an electron donor-acceptor complex between a phenolate and an arylbromide, electron transfer, and debrominative C(sp 2 )-C(sp 2 ) coupling.