Tin-free radical sequences under acidic conditions. Convergent access to azole-containing structures

(equation presented) Various xanthates add efficiently to olefins bearing [1,2,4]triazole, imidazole, or benzimidazole moieties in the presence of camphorsulfonic acid via a radical chain reaction initiated by a small amount of lauroyl peroxide. The adducts may be transformed to more complex molecules by implementing a further radical cyclization.