Radical Hydrotrifluoroacetylation of Alkenes via Photoinduced Iron Catalysis

Abstract Catalytic trifluoroacetylation of alkenes offers a direct and attractive route to trifluoromethyl ketones, yet it remains a significant challenge for unactivated alkene substrates. Herein, we report a visible-light-induced iron-catalyzed trifluoroacetylation of alkenes. By leveraging a synergistic ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT)/hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) manifold, this protocol enables the efficient conversion of a wide range of unactivated and activated alkenes into the corresponding trifluoromethyl ketones. The synthetic utility of this method is demonstrated through gram-scale synthesis, late-stage functionalization of complex drug-like scaffolds, and the expedient preparation of a cathepsin protease inhibitor, highlighting its potential in both synthetic and medicinal chemistry.