Construction of α-Acyloxy Ketones via Photoredox-Catalyzed O-H Insertion of Sulfoxonium Ylides with Carboxylic Acids.

Herein, a photoredox-catalyzed insertion of sulfoxonium ylides with carboxylic acids was advanced under mild and simple conditions, offering a practical approach for preparing α-acyloxy ketones with a broad scope of carboxylic acids. A combined experimental and computational study suggests that this reaction proceeds via a stepwise proton-assisted electron transfer mechanism.