Photo‐Induced Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Double Remote C(sp²)−H / C(sp³)−H Functionalizations by Radical Relay

AbstractDistal C(sp2)−H and C(sp3)−H functionalizations have recently emerged as step‐economical tools for molecular synthesis. However, while the C(sp2)−C(sp3) construction is of fundamental importance, its formation through double remote C(sp2)−H/C(sp3)−H activation has proven elusive. By merging the ruthenium‐catalyzed meta‐C(sp2)−H functionalization with an aliphatic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process, we, herein, describe the catalyzed twofold remote C(sp2)−H/C(sp3)−H functionalizations via photo‐induced ruthenium‐mediated radical relay. Thus, meta‐C(sp2)−H arene bonds and remote C(sp3)−H alkane bonds were activated by a single catalyst in a single operation. This process was accomplished at room temperature by visible light—notably without exogenous photocatalysts. Experimental and computational theory studies uncovered a manifold comprising ortho‐C−H activation, single‐electron‐transfer (SET), 1,n‐HAT (n=5–7) and σ‐activation by means of a single ruthenium(II) catalyst.