Photoredox catalyst introduces two nucleophiles across a carbon–carbon bond at once

Researchers in the US have developed a photoredox system that allows them to introduce two nucleophiles across a carbon–carbon bond at once, despite starting from a simple benzylic carbon–halogen structure. This challenges the idea that such bonds can only undergo single transformations. Such reactions could help chemists cut the number of reaction steps and increase the diversity of 1,2-disubstituted products.