Visible-light induced decarboxylative C2-alkylation of benzothiazoles with carboxylic acids under metal-free conditions

Abstract

An effective protocol of photoredox catalyzed C2-alkylation of benzothiazoles with aliphatic carboxylic acids was disclosed. In the presence of an acridinium salt as a photocatalyst and air as an oxidant, a wide range of secondary or tertiary aliphatic carboxylic acids were employed as alkylation reagents, providing the desired products in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions with a broad substrate scope.