Dicarboxylation of Alkenes with CO2 and Formate via Photoredox Catalysis

Herein, a photocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of succinic acids by alkene dicarboxylation with carbon dioxide (CO2) and formate salt as synergistic carbon sources is described. The formate salt acts as both a C1 source and reductant in the reaction with catalytic amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a hydrogen atom transfer reagent. Various mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alkenes, acrylate, acrylamide, and indole derivatives could be converted to the corresponding diacids, which provided potential useful applications in medicinal chemistry and polymer industry.