Photoredox Neutral Decarboxylative Hydroxyalkylations of Heteroarenes with α-Keto Acids.

Photoredox neutral decarboxylative hydroxyalkylations of heteroarenes with α-keto acids under mild conditions are described. Stable and readily available α-keto acids were employed as hydroxyalkylating reagents with only CO 2 released as the byproduct. A range of aromatic and aliphatic α-keto acids were successfully converted into hydroxyalkylated products with various heteroarenes. This transformation proceeded through a decarboxylation/Minisci addition/SCS sequence, generating a variety of valuable hydroxyalkylated heteroarenes.