Photoinduced EDA Complex-Enabled Deboronative Arylation of Potassium Alkyltrifluoroborates

The green synthesis chemistry mediated by photoinduced electron donor-acceptor (EDA) chemistry is highly compelling and desirable in both academic and industrial applications. Herein, an EDA complex-enabled deboronative arylation was established by using readily available potassium alkyltrifluoroborates and (hetero)aryl nitriles under mild conditions, eliminating the need for photocatalysts, transition metals, bases, and oxidants. Mechanistic investigations provided insights into the formation of a novel EDA complex involving alkyltrifluoroborates and aryl nitriles. Under light irradiation, a wide range of 1°, 2°, and 3° alkyltrifluoroborates can serve as carbon-centered radical precursors, enabling the formation of new C(sp³)-C(sp²) bonds, leading to the synthesis of a wide variety of valuable alkylarene derivatives with moderate to excellent yields.