Visible-Light-Induced Decarboxylative Cyclization/Hydrogenation Cascade Reaction to Access Phenanthridin-6-yl(aryl)methanol by an Electron Donor–Acceptor Complex

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c01916
• Publication Date: 2020-10-16T11:43:23Z
• Authors: Wei Shi; Fang Ma; Pinhua Li; Lei Wang; Tao Miao
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

A novel and efficient visible-light-induced decarboxylative cyclization/hydrogenation cascade reaction of α-oxocarboxylic acids and 2-isocyanobiaryls has been developed. Without the need of any external photosensitizer, oxidant, and reductant, this method offers a mild and green approach for the synthesis of diverse alcohols in moderate to good yields. A mechanism indicated that an electron donor-acceptor complex-driven decarboxylation, radical addition/cyclization, and in situ photochemical reduction of ketones to alcohols could be involved in the reaction.