Eosin Y-catalyzed visible-light-mediated aerobic oxidative cyclization of N,N-dimethylanilines with maleimides

Abstract

A novel and simple strategy for the efficient synthesis of the corresponding tetrahydroquinolines from N,N-dimethylanilines and maleimides using visible light in an air atmosphere in the presence of Eosin Y as a photocatalyst has been developed. The metalfree protocol involves aerobic oxidative cyclization via sp 3 C-H bond functionalization process to afford good yields in a one-pot procedure under mild conditions.