Visible-light-induced dearomative 1,4-carbamoylpyridinylation of nonactivated naphthalenes

Abstract

A visible-light-induced dearomative 1,4-carbamoylpyridinylation of nonactivated naphthalenes is described. The protocol provides rapid access to a series of pyridinylated spiro 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes in moderate yields by using naphthyl-substituted oxamic acids and 4-cyanopyridines as substrates through radical–radical cross-coupling followed by base-mediated alkene tautomerization. In addition, this method enabled late-stage functionalization of several drug derivatives, demonstrating the practical utility of this reaction.