Synthesis of hydroxy acids via the light-driven carboxylation of epoxides with CO2

Light-driven ring-opening carboxylation of epoxides with CO2provided β-hydroxy acids via sequential single electron transfer (SET), followed by reaction with CO2. This reaction condition was applicable to aryl epoxides and oxetanes with (hetero)polycyclic aromatics to give the corresponding β- and γ-hydroxy acids, respectively, with high chemoselectivity.Graphical Abstractβ-Hydroxy acids were successfully synthesized by the light-driven ring-opening carboxylation of epoxides with CO2. Aryl epoxides and oxetanes with (hetero)polycyclic aromatics were converted into the corresponding β- and γ-hydroxy acids, respectively, with high chemoselectivity.