meso-Antracenyl-BODIPY Dyad as a New Photocatalyst in Atom-Transfer Radical Addition Reactions

We demonstrate that because of the efficient generation of triplet excited state under UV or visible-light irradiation, meso-antracenyl-BODIPY donor-acceptor dyad can catalyze atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) reactions between bromomalonate and alkenes. This finding paves the way for the design and application of the new type of heavy atom-free organic chromophores for photocatalysis.