Trifluoroethoxylation of Styrenes via Photoredox-Catalyzed Meerwein Reaction

In recent years, visible-light photoredox catalysis has become a widely used synthetic method. Photoredox-catalyzed Meerwein reaction of styrenes in the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol as a nucleophile afforded the target aryl trifluoroethoxylation products in moderate yields 32–53%. The best results were achieved using [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2 as a catalyst in the presence of Na2HPO4 in acetonitrile.