Synthesis of O-Heterocycle Spiro-Fused Cyclopentaquinolinones and Cyclopentaindenes through Visible Light-Induced Radical Cyclization Reactions

Presented herein is an effective and sustainable synthesis of O-heterocycle spiro-fused cyclopentaquinolinone and cyclopentaindene derivatives through light-driven cascade reactions of N-(o-ethynylaryl)acrylamides or 2-(2-(phenylethynyl)benzyl)acrylate with various O-heterocycles. Experimental mechanistic studies revealed that these reactions are initiated by visible light-induced radical formation from O-heterocycle and its regioselective addition onto the acrylamide or acrylate moiety followed by 6-exo-dig and 5-endo-trig cascade radical annulation, which is terminated by single electron oxidation and proton elimination. Compared with previously reported synthetic methods for similar purposes, this newly developed protocol has advantages such as a broad substrate scope, extremely mild reaction conditions, excellent atom-economy, high efficiency, and good compatibility with diverse functional groups. With all of these merits, this method is expected to find wide applications in the related research arena.