Transition metal-free, photocatalytic arylation and dioxygenation for vicinal diketone synthesis using alkynes and arene diazonium salts

Abstract

A metal-free dioxygenative reaction of aryl diazonium salts with aryl alkynes for vicinal diketone synthesis is developed. Aerobic oxygenation and organic dye-based photocatalysis are the major advantages of the synthetic method. On the basis of rational control experiments, a photoredox mechanism involving free radical dioxygenation is proposed.