Copper-Catalyzed Radical-Promoted Aminocyclization of Acrylamides with <i>N</i>‑Fluorobenzenesulfonimide

A facile copper-catalyzed radical aminoarylation of acrylamide with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) is described. In the presence of copper acetate and 1,10-phenanthroline, a range of isoquinoline-1,3-diones can be constructed in moderate to good yields using NFSI as the amination reagent. Mechanistic studies demonstrated the reaction went through a sequential radical addition and cyclization pathway, which was supported by DFT calculations.