Photoredox‐Catalyzed Difluoromethylation/Cyclization of N‐Cyanamide Alkenes to Access Difluoromethylated Polycyclic Quinazolinones

Abstract An efficient photoinduced radical cascade difluoromethylation/cyclization reaction of N ‐cyanamide alkenes has been developed. A diverse range of difluoromethylated quinazolinones have been synthesized with good yields and broad functional group tolerance. This photocatalytic protocol offers a facile and practical approach to accessing valuable polycyclic quinazolinone derivatives. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the transformation proceeds via a radical pathway involving single electron transfer (SET).