Photoredox-Catalysis-Modulated, Nickel-Catalyzed Divergent Difunctionalization of Ethylene

Divergent synthesis represents a powerful strategy for directly accessing different molecular scaffolds originating from the same starting materials. Access to different end products via transition-metal catalysis is conventionally achieved by ligand control. We herein demonstrate the use of ethylene feedstock and commercially available aryl halides to accomplish the divergent synthesis of 1,2-diarylethanes, 1,4-diarylbutanes, or 2,3-diarylbutanes in a highly selective fashion through the synergistic combination of nickel and photoredox catalysis. Mechanistic studies suggest that the observed selectivity was due to different active states of Ni(I) and Ni(0) modulated by Ru- and Ir-based photoredox catalysts, respectively. The ability to access different organometallic oxidation states via photoredox catalysis promises to inspire new perspectives for synergistic transition-metal-catalyzed divergent synthesis.