Visible-light-induced photocatalytic azotrifluoromethylation of alkenes with aryldiazonium salts and sodium triflinate.

The efficient visible light photocatalytic azotrifluoromethylation of alkenes with aryldiazonium salts and sodium triflinate is described, which gave the corresponding trifluoromethylated azo compounds in generally good yields. The trifluoromethylated azo products can be easily transformed into useful heterocycles and nitrogen-containing building blocks.

Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activation of Inert Sulfur Ylides for 3-Acyl Oxindole Synthesis.

Bicarbonyl-substituted sulfur ylide is a useful, but inert reagent in organic synthesis. Usually, harsh reaction conditions are required for its transformation. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a new, visible-light photoredox catalytic annulation of sulfur ylides under extremely mild conditions, permits the synthesis of oxindole derivatives in high selectivities and efficiencies. The key to its success is the photocatalytic single-electron-transfer (SET) oxidation of the inert amide and acyl-stabilized sulfur ylides to reactive radical cations, which easily proceeds with intramolecular C-H functionalization to give the final products.