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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Visible-light-induced selective defluoroalkylations of polyfluoroarenes with alcohols
Wengang Xu1, Qi Shao2, Congjian Xia2
1College of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China) Qingdao Shandong Province 266580 P. R. China chmxw@upc.edu.cn wumb@upc.edu.cn.
Abstract:
To provide α-polyfluoroarylalcohols, a novel protocol for the selective defluoroalkylation of polyfluoroarenes with easily accessible alcohols was reported via the cooperation of photoredox and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategies with the assistance of Lewis acids under visible light irradiation. The protocol featured broad scope, excellent regioselectivity for both C-H and C-F bond cleavages, and mild conditions. Mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction occurred through Lewis acid-promoted HAT to provide an alkyl radical and sequential addition to polyfluoroarenes. Impressively, the regioselectivity for C-F cleavage was verified with the Fukui function. The feasibility and application of this protocol on fluoroarene synthesis were well illustrated by gram-scale synthesis under both batch and flow conditions, late-stage decoration of bioactive compounds, and further transformations of the fluoroarylalcohols.
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