A new synergistic multicatalytic activation mode of eosin Y has been discovered by exploiting the redox potential of its ground state and excited state. This catalytic strategy proves to be an enabling tool for visible-light-driven sequential benzylic C-H amination and oxidation of o-benzyl-N-methoxyl-benzamides when using Selectfluor as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reagent and O2 as oxidant. Efficient synthesis of a range of diversely functionalized 3-hydroxyisoindolinones can thus be achieved with good yields and selectivity at mild reaction conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies and DFT calculations suggest that eosin Y works as a redox catalyst and photosensitizer.
Keywords: amination; isoindolinones; oxidation; photoredox catalysis; redox catalysis.
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