Visible light promoted polyhalomethylation of alkenes: alkylation and cyclization

Abstract

We report a visible light promoted carbochloromethylation of 2-bromomethyl acrylate and N-arylmethacrylamide, and a series of trihalomethyl substituted allylic acid esters and indolone derivatives were synthesized. The reaction used common and inexpensive chloroform and tribromomethane as trihalomethyl reagents, iodobenzene diacetate (PIDA) as an oxidant and Eosin Y as a photocatalyst. The reaction conditions are mild and the substrate scope is wide.