Metal-Free Photoinduced Hydroalkylation Cascade Enabled by an Electron-Donor-Acceptor Complex

A metal- and catalyst-free photoinduced radical cascade hydroalkylation of 1,7-enynes has been disclosed. The process is triggered by a SET event involving a photoexcited electron-donor-aceptor complex between NHPI ester and Hantzsch ester, which decomposes to afford a tertiary radical that is readily trapped by the enyne. The method provides an operationally simple, robust and step-economical approach to the construction of diversely functionalized dihydroquinolinones bearing quaternary-centers. A sequential one-pot hydroalkylation-isomerization approach is also allowed giving access to a family of quinolinones. A wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance was observed in both approaches.