https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01702

ABSTRACT: N-heterocyclic nitrenium (NHN) salts, the analogs of N-heterocyclic carbenes, have attracted considerable interest. However, relatively little is known about their catalytic ability beyond their Lewis acid catalysis. Herein, we describe that NHNs can serve as catalytic electron acceptors for charge transfer complex photoactivations. We showcase that, under blue light irradiation, the NHN salts could catalyze the generation of aryl radicals from aryl halides.