Sustainable radical reduction through catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer reactions (CHAT-reactions)

A system with coupled catalytic cycles is described that allows radical reduction by catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (CHAT) from transition metal hydrides. These intermediates are generated through H2 activation. Radical generation is carried out by titanocene catalyzed electron transfer to epoxides. The reaction provides a novel entry into the atom-economical reduction of radicals that has long been considered as a critical issue for the industrial application of radical chemistry.