Electron donor-acceptor complex-driven photocatalyst-free synthesis of nitrocyclopropanes

Herein, a visible light-promoted metal-free protocol for the synthesis of nitrocyclopropanes under mild conditions is reported. Specifically, the process is driven by the photochemical activity of ternary EDA complexes formed upon complexation of α-bromonitrostyrenes and DIPEA in the presence of benzaldehyde. This reaction provides a variety of densely functionalized cyclopropanes with good selectivity under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic investigations on the aspects of the process also demonstrate formation of the hypothesized EDA complex.