Visible Light Mediated Organophotoredox Catalyzed Synthesis of Tetraketones Using Tertiary Amines as Alkyl Synthons

Eosin Y catalyzed syntheses of bioactive tetraketones using cyclic-1,3-diketones and tertiary amines as alkyl synthons under 18 W blue LED have been accomplished. The condition is very mild that uses air as a green oxidant and avoids previously used harsh conditions like high temperature. Diverse arrays of tertiary amines first undergo reductive quenching of excited photocatalysts to form iminium ions that upon subsequent attack by cyclic-1,3-diketones give rise to tetraketones. This method is demonstrated with 31 examples with yields up to 76%. The feasibility of this reaction in the presence of eosin Y catalyst under a solar condition is also demonstrated with significant examples.