Green Approach for Visible-Light-Induced Direct Functionalization of 2‑Methylquinolines

A transition metal- and oxidant-free visible light-photoinduced protocol for direct functionalization of 2-methylquinolines has been developed. This protocol enabled the C–H functionalization of substituted 2-methylquinolines with diacetyl or ethyl pyruvate, under environmentally friendly conditions. A mechanistic investigation based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided details about the origins of reactivity and selectivity.