Heterocyclization involving benzylic C(sp3)-H functionalization enabled by visible light photoredox catalysis.

A general and efficient method for heterocyclization involving benzylic C(sp3)-H functionalization enabled by visible light photoredox catalysis to access a wide range of structurally diverse oxygen as well as nitrogen heterocycles up to a gram scale is reported. The potential application of this new methodology is demonstrated by the total synthesis of (-)-codonopsinine and (+)-centrolobine. Herein it is proposed that selectfluor, unlike a fluorinating reagent, acts as an oxidative quencher and a hydrogen radical acceptor.