Copper-Catalyzed Radical Cross-Coupling of Redox-Active Oxime Esters, Styrenes, and Boronic Acids.

A visible-light-driven, copper-catalyzed three-component radical cross-coupling of oxime esters, styrenes, and boronic acids has been developed. Key steps of this protocol involve catalytic generation of an iminyl radical from a redox-active oxime ester and subsequent C-C bond cleavage to generate a cyanoalkyl radical. Upon its addition to styrene, the newly formed benzylic radical undergoes coupling with a boronic-acid-derived ArCuII complex to achieve 1,1-diarylmethane-containing alkylnitriles.