Visible light-induced radical cascade acylmethylation/cyclization of 2-(allyloxy)arylaldehydes with α-bromo ketones: access to cyclic 1,5-dicarbonyl-containing chroman-4-one skeletons.

A novel photocatalytic protocol for effective and efficient synthesis of cyclic 1,5-diketones containing chroman-4-one skeletons in moderate to good yields via radical cascade acylmethylation/cyclization of 2-(allyloxy)arylaldehydes with α-bromo ketones has been described. This reaction features a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and metal- and oxidant-free conditions. An acylmethyl radical-triggered cascade cyclization was involved.

Heat- or light-induced acylarylation of unactivated alkenes towards 3-(α-acyl) indolines.

A heat- or photoredox/iron dual catalysis-enabled dehydrogenative acylarylation of N-allyl anilines leading to 2-substituted 3-(α-acyl) indolines with a quaternary stereogenic center is presented, with unactivated alkenic bonds as radical acceptors and simple aldehydes as radical precursors. This reaction features high yields, a broad substrate scope, and a great exo selectivity, and gram-scale syntheses could be readily carried out.