Photoredox-catalyst-controlled divergent alkylation of α-CF3-olefins

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Shen and coworkers report a photoredox-catalyzed divergent radical alkylation of α-CF3-olefins through a juidicious choice of photocatalysts with suitable reduction potentials, delivering a series of gem-difluoroalkenes and trifluoromethyl alkanes from α-CF3 olefins. The use of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as an additive is important to the selective construction of trifluoromethyl alkanes.