Reductive Cross-Coupling of Olefins via a Radical Pathway

Olefins are widely available at low costs, which explains the usefulness of developing new methods for their functionalization. Here we report a simple protocol that uses a photoredox catalyst and an inexpensive thiol catalyst to stitch together two olefins, forming a new C-C bond. Specifically, an electron-poor olefin is reduced by the photoredox catalyst to generate, upon protonation, a carbon radical, which is then captured by a neutral olefin. This intermolecular cross-coupling process provides a tool for rapidly synthesizing sp³-dense molecules from olefins using an unconventional disconnection.