Switchable Direct Oxygenative Arylation of C(sp 3 )-H Bonds via Electrophotocatalysis.

A metal-free electrophotochemical C(sp)-H arylation was developed under mild conditions. This method enables a switchable synthesis of diaryl alcohols and diaryl alkanes from inactive benzylic carbons. More importantly, a cheap and safe mediator -chlorosuccinimide (NCS) was developed, which was employed for the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process of the benzylic C-H bond. In addition, this active radical was captured and identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).