An efficient metal-free, photomediated iodo perfluoroalkylation under mild conditions was developed. Using catalytic amounts (10 mol %) of phosphines and blue light irradiation, various olefins are transformed into the corresponding addition products within short reaction times. For this purpose, a modular and convenient 3D printed photoreactor was constructed, which is presented as an open source model. The reaction presumably proceeds upon generation of perfluoroalkyl radicals, which are formed by catalyst-induced absorption enhancement.

The total synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)-mesembrine is described. The central pyrrolidine moiety incorporating a quaternary, all-carbon-substituted stereocenter was constructed employing an asymmetric gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of a 1,4-diynamide.

The frustrated Lewis pair‐catalyzed iodoperfluoroalkylation of olefins, its substrate activation mode, and catalyst degradation pathways are mechanistically investigated by kinetic measurements. The transformation most likely proceeds via coordination of the phosphane to the perfluoroalkyl iodide and involves radical intermediates.

A comparison of two catalytic, metal-free iodoperfluoro­alkylation protocols is presented. Frustrated Lewis pairs [ t Bu3P/B(C6F5)3] or phosphines/phosphites under visible light irradiation efficiently mediate the functionalization of non-activated alkenes and alkynes. A comprehensive account of the corresponding substrate scopes as well as insights into the mechanistic details of both reaction pathways are provided.