Radical carbonylative synthesis of heterocycles by visible light photoredox catalysis

Abstract

Visible light photocatalytic radical carbonylation has been established as a robust tool for the efficient synthesis of carbonyl-containing compounds. Acyl radicals serve as the key intermediates in these useful transformations and can be generated from the addition of alkyl or aryl radicals to carbon monoxide (CO) or various acyl radical precursors such as aldehydes, carboxylic acids, anhydrides, acyl chlorides or α-keto acids. In this review, we aim to summarize the impact of visible light-induced acyl radical carbonylation reactions on the synthesis of oxygen and nitrogen heterocycles. The discussion is mainly categorized based on different types of acyl radical precursors.