Photocatalytic Aerobic Coupling of Azaarenes and Alkanes via Nontraditional Cl Generation.

Herein, we demonstrate a nonconventional photocatalytic generation of Cl from a common chlorinated solvent, dichloroethane, under aerobic conditions and its successful utilization toward the cross-dehydrogenative coupling of alkanes and azaarenes via hydrogen atom transfer with Cl. The process is free from chloride salt, toxic oxidant, and UV light. It is applicable to a broad spectrum of substrates. The proposed mechanism involving Cl is supported by a series of mechanistic investigations.