Visible‐light‐induced and EDA Complex‐initiated Hydroxyselenization of α ‐CF 3 Alkenes: Access to α ‐trifluoromethyl‐ β ‐selanyl tertiary Alcohols

Abstract A visible‐light‐induced and electron donor‐acceptor (EDA) complex‐initiated hydroxyselenization of α ‐CF 3 alkenes for the synthesis of valuable α ‐trifluoromethyl‐ β ‐selanyl tertiary alcohols was first developed. The reaction uses ethanol as the green solvent, air (O 2 ) as the ideal oxygen source, mild reaction conditions, simple operation and does not require the use of any transition metals and external photocatalysts. The synthetic value and practicality of this method has been demonstrated by the conversion of several substrates derived from drug molecules, efficient transformation under sunlight irradiation and gram‐scale reaction.