Visible-light-promoted iminyl-radical formation from acyl oximes: a unified approach to pyridines, quinolines, and phenanthridines.

A unified strategy involving visible-light-induced iminyl-radical formation has been established for the construction of pyridines, quinolines, and phenanthridines from acyl oximes. With fac-[Ir(ppy)3 ] as a photoredox catalyst, the acyl oximes were converted by 1 e(-) reduction into iminyl radical intermediates, which then underwent intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) to give the N-containing arenes. These reactions proceeded with a broad range of substrates at room temperature in high yield. This strategy of visible-light-induced iminyl-radical formation was successfully applied to a five-step concise synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids.