Uses of α‐Oxocarboxylic Acids in Photoinduced Minisci Reactions

The late‐stage functionalization of heteroaromatic compounds is a valuable strategy in synthetic chemistry. A particularly effective transformation in this respect is the recently developed visible‐light‐mediated Minisci‐type reaction for constructing functionalized N‐heteroarenes utilizing stable and inexpensive α‐keto acids. This review focuses on the uses of α‐oxocarboxylic acids in the photoinduced Minisci‐type acylation, hydroxyalkylation and arylation of N‐heteroarenes. The scope of each methodology, its mechanism, and practical applications in synthesis are discussed.