Phenanthrenequinone-Sensitized Photocatalytic Synthesis of Polysubstituted Quinolines from 2-Vinylarylimines

Org Lett. 2022 Jan 14;24(1):274-278. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03934. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Abstract

Visible-light-excited 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ*) was used as a photocatalyst for the synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines via the electrocyclization of 2-vinylarylimines. Up to quantitative yields of 2,4-disubstituted quinolines were received after 1 h of excitation with blue LEDs at room temperature when MgCO3 was used as an additive in DCM. On the basis of experimental and DFT studies, we propose that PQ* induces one-electron oxidation of the imine substrate that triggers the electrocyclization mechanism.