Cu-based carbene involved in a radical process: a new crossover reaction to construct γ-peroxy esters and 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds

Through merging Cu-based carbenes in a radical process, a novel crossover reaction has been successfully established, leading to the facile and efficient syntheses of various γ-peroxy esters and 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. Considering that both Cu-based carbene complexes and radicals are extremely reactive, and therefore exist only in extraordinarily low concentrations, the high selectivity of this coupling reaction is unusual.