Transition Metal Photoredox Catalysis of Radical Thiol-Ene Reactions

We describe the anti-Markovnikov hydrothiolation of olefins using visible-light-absorbing transition metal photocatalysts. The key thiyl radical intermediates are generated upon quenching of photoexcited Ru*(bpz)3(2) with a variety of thiols. The adducts of a wide variety of olefins and thiols are formed in excellent yield (73-99%).