Visible-light-induced selenium-mediated cascade cyclization of 2-isocyanobenzonitriles with secondary amines to access indole-fused polycyclics

Controllable synthesis of indolo[2,3- b ]quinoxalines and imidazo[4,5- b ]indoles was achieved through the cascade cyclization of 2-isocyanobenzonitriles with secondary amines. An intramolecular EDA complex triggered this photochemical radical process.