External-Photocatalyst-Free Visible-Light-Mediated Synthesis of Indolizines

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015 Dec 14;54(51):15545-9. doi: 10.1002/anie.201506868. Epub 2015 Nov 4.

Abstract

A visible-light-mediated synthesis of valuable polycyclic indolizine heterocycles from easily accessed brominated pyridine and enol carbamate derivatives has been developed. This process, which operates at room temperature under irradiation from readily available light sources, does not require the addition of an external photocatalyst. Instead, an investigation into the reaction mechanism indicates that the indolizine products themselves may be in some way involved in mediating and accelerating their own formation. Preliminary studies also show that these simple heterocyclic compounds may be capable of facilitating other visible-light-mediated transformations.

Keywords: heterocyclic compounds; indolizines; photocatalysis; radicals; visible light.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't