Modular Synthesis of Carbazole-Substituted Phthalimides as Potential Photocatalysts

Abstract The modular synthesis of carbazole functionalized phthalimides (PIs) and their applicability as catalyst in selected photocatalytic transformations are reported. The developed synthetic approach provides high variability of phthalimide considering that the synthesis of the phthalimide core can be easily performed. Starting from fluorophthalic acid anhydrides, the corresponding fluorophthalimides were prepared with various amines, and the fluoro function ensured the introduction of carbazoles into the phthalimide framework through aromatic nucleophilic substitution. Besides the synthetic developments, some of the carbazolyl phthalimides were tested in four different photocatalytic transformations, which showed attractive and comparable activity to the known 4-CzIPN and noble metal complexes.