Photo-induced 1,2-alkylarylation/cyclization of alkenes, alkyl halides and N-alkylindoles via an EDA-complex

Abstract

Herein, a photo-induced strategy for the redox-neutral 1,2-alkylarylation and 1,2-alkylarylation cyclization of alkenes, alkyl halides and N-alkylindoles was developed. Importantly, this strategy could be widely used to synthesize polysubstituted tetrahydrofuran under mild conditions without the use of external redox reagents and photosensitizers. Mechanistic studies suggest this reaction was driven by the photochemical activity of electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes, formed by association of N-alkylindoles and activated alkyl halides under the assistance of acid.