Visible-Light-Driven Stereoselective Annulation of Alkyl Anilines and Dibenzoylethylenes via Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes

J Org Chem. 2021 Jan 15;86(2):1901-1910. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02819. Epub 2021 Jan 4.

Abstract

A catalyst-free, stereoselective visible-light-driven annulation reaction between alkenes and N,N-substituted dialkyl anilines for the synthesis of substituted tetrahydroquinolines is presented. The reaction is driven by the photoexcitation of an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex, and the resulting products are obtained in good to high yields with complete diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic rationale and photochemical characterization of the EDA-complex are provided.