Blue light promoted room temperature iron-catalyzed C3-alkylation of indenes by alcohols via borrowing hydrogen methodology

• A general iron-catalyzed C3-alkylation of indene derivatives using primary alcohols as electrophilic partners is developed. Noticeably, this transformation was performed with a variety of substituted indenes and alcohols and was conducted at room temperature thanks to the use of blue light activation. • Noticeably the scope of this reaction is quite broad with both linear alkyl and benzylic alcohols and a good functional group tolerance was observed notably with halides, heteroaromatics, benzyloxy, amino, hydroxy, cyclopropyl and remoted C C double bonds which were not altered. Additionally, the reaction can be extended to 2-, 4- and 7-substituted indenes. (38 examples, 30–99% yields) • Control experiments permitted to propose a catalytic cycle explaining notably the role of the blue light. We reported herein a general iron-catalyzed C3-alkylation of indene derivatives using primary alcohols as electrophilic partners. Noticeably, this transformation was performed with a variety of substituted indenes and alcohols at room temperature thanks to the use of blue light activation. (38 examples, 30–99% yields) Control experiments permitted to propose a catalytic cycle explaining notably the role of the blue light.