Photo‐Induced Sulfonylation/Cyclization of Biaryl Vinyl Ethers with Sulfonyl Chlorides Enabled by Catalytic Triarylamine EDA Complexes: Synthesis of 6 H ‐Benzo[ c ]Chromene Scaffolds

An EDA complex using 4‐methoxy‐ N ‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐ N ‐phenylaniline as the catalytic donor for the photo‐induced sulfonylation/cyclization of biaryl vinyl ethers using inexpensive and readily available sulfonyl chlorides has been described. Applying this operationally simple and visible‐light‐mediated general platform, 6 H ‐benzo[ c ]chromene and 6 H ‐benzo[ c ]thiochromene scaffolds can be easily constructed. This protocol tolerated a wide range of functional groups and provided the desired products in 33–86% yields.