Merging Photoexcited Nitroarenes with Lewis Acid Catalysis for the Anti-Markovnikov Oxidation of Alkenes

Herein we describe the oxidation of alkenes to carbonyls and acetonides via the interplay of photoexcited nitroarenes and Lewis acid catalysis. A wide range of alkenes were oxidized to aldehyde and ketone products with anti-Markovnikov selectivity, and to acetonides when acetone was employed as a co-solvent. Mechanistic studies support that Lewis acid coordination to the 1,3,2-dioxazolidine intermediate results in a 1,2-shift to generate carbonyl derivatives and a nucleophilic substitution pathway for the formation of acetonides.