Reductive Cleavage of C–X or N–S Bonds Catalyzed by Super Organoreductant CBZ6

The reductive cleavage of C(Ar)-X bonds is the key step for the cross coupling of Ar-X with other groups. In this work, under the irradiation of 407 nm LEDs using sodium formate as reductant and thiol as hydrogen atom transfer agent, a variety of (hetero)aryl chlorides, bromides, and iodides could be reduced to corresponding (hetero)arenes. The key intermediates, aryl radicals, could be trapped by either hydrogen, phosphite, or borates. The same reduction conditions can be extended to the deprotection of sulfonamides.