Visible-Light-Induced Synergistic W/Cr Catalyzed gem-Difluoroallylation of Unactivated Alkanes.

Currently, the scope of the Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) reaction is limited to aldehydes and ketones to construct alcohol derivatives. Herein, we have described a visible-light-induced synergistic W/Cr(III)-catalyzed NHK-type gem-difluoroallylation reaction of unactivated cyclic and linear alkanes. The reaction merits feedstock materials, mild reaction conditions, and a wide functionality tolerance. Mechanistic studies imply the favorable reduction of CrCl3 to CrCl2 by reduced decatungstate W10O325-, thus closing the catalytic cycle.