Acyl Radicals from α-Keto Acids Using a Carbonyl Photocatalyst: Photoredox-Catalyzed Synthesis of Ketones.

Acyl radicals have been generated from α-keto acids using inexpensive and commercially available 2-chloro-thioxanthen-9-one as the photoredox catalyst under visible light illumination. These reactive species added to olefins or coupled with aryl halides via a bipyridyl-stabilized Ni(II) catalyst, enabling easy access to a diverse range of ketones. This reliable, atom-economical, and eco-friendly protocol is compatible with a wide range of functional groups.