Radical cascade cyclization for the green and simple synthesis of silylated indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives via visible light-mediated Si–H bonds activation

Photocatalytic and photoinduced silyl radicals cascade cyclization procedures for the green and simple preparation of fused tetracyclic skeleton silylated indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6(5H)-ones from 2-aryl-N-acryloyl indoles with hydrosilanes are developed. The photocatalytic reaction is carried out with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) as an organophotocatalyst and 3-acetoxyquinuclidine as hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst at room temperature under metal- and oxidant-free conditions. The keys to the success of photoredox-catalytic conversion include (1) the reductive quenching of DCA* [E1/2(*P/P–) = +1.97 V vs. SCE in MeCN] by 3-acetoxyquinuclidine (Ep = +1.22 V vs. SCE in MeCN), and (2) the thermodynamic feasibility of hydrogen atom abstraction from hydridic Si–H bond by electrophilic N+•. Particularly, the simple photoinduced cascade cyclization using (TMS)3SiH with 2-aryl-N-acryloyl indoles was exploited via an electron−donor−acceptor (EDA) complex under visible light irradiation.