A strategy for both
cross-electrophile coupling and 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization
of olefins has been developed. Carbon-centered radicals are generated
from alkyl bromides by merging benzophenone hydrogen atom transfer
(HAT) photocatalysis and silyl radical-induced halogen atom transfer
(XAT) and are subsequently intercepted by a nickel catalyst to forge
the targeted C(sp
3
)–C(sp
2
) and C(sp
3
)–C(sp
3
) bonds. The mild protocol is fast
and scalable using flow technology, displays broad functional group
tolerance, and is amenable to a wide variety of medicinally relevant
moieties. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the ketone catalyst,
upon photoexcitation, is responsible for the direct activation of
the silicon-based XAT reagent (HAT-mediated XAT) that furnishes the
targeted alkyl radical and is ultimately involved in the turnover
of the nickel catalytic cycle.