Photoexcitation of Dihydroquinazolinone Anionic Compounds: Difluoroalkylarylation and Difluoroalkylamination of Alkenes

The direct excitation of dihydroquinazolinone (DHQ) anions by visible light has been demonstrated by photophysical experiments. The excited-state DHQ anion serves as both a potent reductant and a radical precursor in a redox neutral radical cascade, circumventing the use of an external photoredox catalyst. Various gem-difluoroalkyl radicals (CF2H and CF2R) leading to the first example of intermolecular 1,2difluoroalkylarylation (CF2H- and CF2R-arylation) of alkenes in overall redox-neutral manner. Similarly, realized, offering a practical pathway for the prepaefficient strategy for the generation of CF2H and tions in drug discovery.