Dual gold and photoredox catalysed C–H activation of arenes for aryl–aryl cross couplings

Abstract

A mild and fully catalytic aryl–aryl cross coupling via gold-catalysed C–H activation has been achieved by merging gold and photoredox catalysis. The procedure is free of stoichiometric oxidants and additives, which were previously required in gold-catalysed C–H activation reactions. Exploiting dual gold and photoredox catalysis confers regioselectivity via the crucial gold-catalysed C–H activation step, which is not present in the unselective photocatalysis-only counterpart.