Visible light-mediated radical alkenylation of benzylsulfonium salts was achieved by means of fac-Ir(ppy)3 as a photocatalyst, giving allylbenzenes as products. A variety of functional groups, such as halogen, ester, and cyano, were well tolerated in this transformation. Starting benzylsulfonium salts could be readily prepared from benzyl alcohols by an acid-mediated substitution, increasing the synthetic utility of this transformation.
Keywords: alkenylation; photoredox catalysis; radical reaction; sulfonium.
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