Highly selective halogenation of unactivated C(sp3)–H with NaX under co-catalysis of visible light and Ag@AgX

The direct selective halogenation of unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds into C-halogen bonds was achieved using a nano Ag/AgCl catalyst at RT under visible light or LED irradiation in the presence of an aqueous solution of NaX/HX as a halide source, in air. The halogenation of hydrocarbons provided mono-halide substituted products with 95% selectivity and yields higher than 90%, with the chlorination of toluene being 81%, far higher than the 40% conversion using dichlorine. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the reaction is a free radical process using blue light (450-500 nm), with visible light being the most effective light source. Irradiation is proposed to cause AgCl bonding electrons to become excited and electron transfer from chloride ions induces chlorine radical formation which drives the substitution reaction. The reaction provides a potentially valuable method for the direct chlorination of saturated hydrocarbons.