Thiobenzoic acid (TBA) can serve as a single-electron reducing agent under photoirradiation from a blue light-emitting diode, in the presence of appropriate electron acceptors, and the resulting sulfur-centered radical species undergoes hydrogen atom abstraction. This dual-role catalysis by TBA enables regioselectivie Cα−H arylation of benzylamines, benzyl alcohols, and ethers, as well as dihydroimidazoles, with cyano(hetero)arenes in good yield, without the need for a transition-metal photocatalyst and/or synthetically elaborated organic dyes.

Homocoupling reactions of benzylamines and benzyl alcohols were examined under synergistic catalysis conditions with a photoredox catalyst and thiobenzoic acid as a hydrogen atom abstractor. When pivalaldehyde was used as an electron acceptor, oxidative dimerization proceeded selectively, whereas the use of benzaldehydes or iminium ions as electron acceptors resulted in redox‐neutral coupling. These reactions afforded symmetrical 1,2‐diamines and 1,2‐diols in good yields.