g-C3N4 Catalyzed Photo-Decarboxylative Functionalization of Benzylic C(Sp3)-H with carbonyl moiety: - An Alternative of Grignard’s Reaction

Abstract

The Grignard reaction is an organometallic chemical reaction in which alkyl, allyl, vinyl, or aryl magnesium halides (Grignard reagent) is added to a carbonyl group in an aldehyde or ketone.1 We demonstrated a metal free heterogeneous organic semiconductor g-C3N4 catalysed2,3 and visible light-assisted benzylation of carbonyl moiety. A facile reaction results in the construction of C−C bonds4 under mild conditions in blue LED irradiation. The catalysis initiates via a radical pathway and involves a ketyl radical anion intermediate.5 The reaction shows good functional group tolerance with excellent yields. The strategy provides an easy access to these molecules with potential medicinal chemistry applications.