La(SPh)₃ as a superior multifunctional catalyst for photoinduced alkylation reactions of active methylene compounds with nonactivated alkenes

Abstract Here, we demonstrate that La(SPh)₃ serves as a highly efficient multifunctional catalyst, exhibiting Lewis acid, Brønsted base, and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) capabilities, for the photoinduced alkylation of active methylene compounds with nonactivated alkenes. While similar reactions have been reported using Mg(SPh)₂ and LiSPh, we found that the use of La(SPh)₃ significantly enhances reaction efficiency, providing the desired alkylated products in high yields. This work highlights the unique catalytic capabilities of La(SPh)₃, particularly leveraging the strong Lewis acidity of lanthanum.