Synthesis of alcohols: streamlined C1 to C hydroxyalkylation through photoredox catalysis.

Naturally occurring and readily available α-hydroxy carboxylic acids (AHAs) are utilized as platforms for visible light-mediated oxidative CO-extrusion furnishing α-hydroxy radicals proved to be versatile C1 to C hydroxyalkylating agents. The direct decarboxylative Giese reaction (DDGR) is operationally simple, not requiring activator or sacrificial oxidants, and enables the synthesis of a diverse range of hydroxylated products, introducing connectivity typically precluded from conventional polar domains. Notably, the methodology has been extended to widely used glycolic acid resulting in a highly efficient and unprecedented C1 hydroxyhomologation tactic. The use of flow technology further facilitates scalability and adds green credentials to this synthetic methodology.