Photoinduced Cascade Synthesis of Oxindoles and Isoquinolinediones

Herein, we developed alkyl radical generation from C(sp3)–H bonds of alkanes via a photoinduced HAT-process
without
employing an external metal, photocatalyst, and organic peroxide.
The generated alkyl radical participates in radical addition and cascade
cyclization of N-arylacrylamides/N-acryloyl benzamides to deliver structurally diverse and valuable
functionalized oxindoles and isoquinolinediones in moderate to good
yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated the generation of
aryl radical through homolytic cleavage of Ar–I bonds via direct
photoexcitation of aryl iodide.