Sodium-Ketyl Radical Anions by Reverse Pinacol Reaction and Their Coupling with Iodoarenes

Transition-metal-free C–C bond formation between aryl iodides and pinacols is presented. Pinacols are readily transformed by deprotonation with NaH to their Na-pinacolates. C–C-bond homolysis at room temperature generates in situ the corresponding Na-ketyl radical anions which react with various aryl iodides in a homolytic aromatic substitution reaction to form tertiary Na-alcoholates. Protonation eventually provides tertiary alcohols in an unprecedented route.