Photoinduced hydroxylperfluoroalkylation of styrenes

Abstract

A transition metal- and organophotocatalyst-free hydroxylperfluoroalkylation of styrenes under visible-light irradiation was developed. In this protocol, an electron donor–acceptor complex (perfluoroalkyl iodide and tertiary amine) was employed for the introduction of a perfluorinated chain and molecular oxygen was used as a green oxidant for the generation of hydroxyl groups. Various styrenes successfully undergo the reaction affording the corresponding fluorine-containing alcohols in up to 96% yields.