Black-light-induced radical/ionic hydroxymethylation of alkyl iodides with atmospheric CO in the presence of tetrabutylammonium borohydride.

Tin-free radical/ionic hydroxymethylation of secondary and tertiary alkyl iodides proceeded efficiently in the presence of tetrabutylammonium borohydride as the hydrogen source under atmospheric pressure of CO in conjunction with photoirradiation using black light. Two possible mechanisms were proposed, both of which involve hybrid radical/ionic processes.