Synthesis of 3-cyanomethylated coumarins by a visible-light-mediated direct cyanomethylation of aryl alkynoates

Abstract

A visible-light-promoted, mild, and direct cyanomethylation of aryl alkynoates has been developed. This method provides a new strategy toward the synthesis of 3-cyanomethylated coumarins via a domino radical addition/5-exo cyclization/ester migration cascade reaction in moderate to good yields at room temperature. Converting the resulting products into various molecules exhibited the synthetic utility of the present methodology.