Chromium(II)-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Alkyl Acylation under Visible Light Irradiation.

By utilizing the stability of metal-ligand coordination and the instability of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited state to dissociate the ligand, the first chromium(II) decarboxylative alkyl acylation reaction under visible light irradiation is herein reported. The reaction uses α-keto acids as acyl radical precursors to react with alkyl radicals, without the need for additional photosensitizers or other additives. The elegant reaction exhibits a wide scope across α-keto acids, radical precursors, and alkanes with moderate to good yields.