Visible-Light-Driven Oxidative Chlorination of Alkyl sp3 C–H Bonds with HCl/Air at Room Temperature

Abstract An aerobic chlorination of alkyl sp3 C–H bonds of functionalized alkanes and simple alkanes has been established successfully under visible light at room temperature. The reaction is performed in the presence of catalytic NaNO2 using HCl or NaCl/acid as a chlorine source and air as a terminal oxidant under atmospheric pressure. It is suggested that NOCl from NaNO2/HCl is a crucial species in the catalytic cycle involving an aerobic oxidation and a photochemical radical chlorination.