Time-Resolved Decarboxylative Alkyl Coupling Promoted by NADH and Blue Light

Flexible, small and strong alkyl ligations created upon external light stimuli can open new avenues for medicinal and biological research. Herein, we have found that NADH and analogues can drive photo-couplings without auxiliary photocatalysts. The time- resolved alkyl photo-ligation between redox-active carboxylate derivatives and electron-poor olefins displays a surprising moisture and air-tolerance, and unusually high coupling rates in dilute conditions. This work sets the conceptual basis for further biocompatible C-C coupling reactions promoted by visible-light in combination with NADH, the ubiquitous reductant of biological systems.