Visible-Light-Mediated Remote Aliphatic C-H Functionalizations through a 1,5-Hydrogen Transfer Cascade.

A redox-neutral, light-mediated functionalization of unactivated C(sp3 )-H bonds via iminyl radicals is presented here. A 1,5-H transfer followed by the functionalization of a C(sp2 )-H bond takes place in aqueous media producing a variety of elaborated fused ketones. Mechanistic investigations have revealed 1,5-H transfer as the reversible, rate-determining step in this transformation. Divergent scaffolds are also accessible via C(sp3 )-N bond formation upon a careful choice of the reaction additives.