Radical–radical cross coupling reactions of photo-excited fluorenones

Radical-radical cross coupling reactions of photoexcited 9-fluorenones have been accomplished for the first time, leading to the synthesis of 9-alkyl, pyrollidinyl and spiro-THF derivatives of 9-fluorenones. The method also reveals, for the first time, the behaviour of ketyl radicals in decarboxyaltive alkylation and ring expansion reactions.