Alkoxy radicals generation: facile photocatalytic reduction of N-alkoxyazinium or azolium salts.

The generation of alkoxy radicals from N-alkoxyazinium or azolium salts, occurring via the facile mono-electronic photocatalytic reduction of the starting compounds, has been recently reported. The photogenerated radicals can be in turn exploited for synthetic applications. These include the possibility to promote inter- or intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer processes to generate P- or C-centered radicals, and the direct addition onto unsaturated derivatives for the construction of C-O bonds.