CuCl2‐Catalyzed α‐Chloroketonation of Aromatic Alkenes via Visible‐Light‐Induced LMCT

Here we report a copper-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of α-chloroketones from aromatic alkenes including electron-deficient olefins under visible-light irradiation. Preliminary mechanistic studies show that the peroxo Cu(II) species is the key intermediate and hydroperoxyl (HOO⋅) and chlorine (Cl⋅) radicals can be generated by ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT).