Methods for the hydrofluoroalkylation of alkenes often require expensive reagents and have limited reaction scope. Now, a photoinduced manganese-catalysed hydrofluoroalkylation is reported, providing an array of fluoroalkyl-containing products from fluoroalkyl halides. Mechanistic studies reveal that the bidentate phosphine ligand plays a key role in atom transfer processes and increases the stability and lifetime of the metalloradical intermediate.
