Vinylpyridines as Building Blocks for the Photocatalyzed Synthesis of Alkylpyridines.

The photocatalyzed addition of several hydrogen donors (ethers, aldehydes, alkanes, amides) onto vinylpyridines was achieved. This approach provided access to alkylpyridines, which are important building blocks for the preparation of compounds with biological activity. The strategy was very simple and straightforward because it required only a small amount of a cheap decatungstate salt as photocatalyst. As an added advantage, the reaction could be performed under sunlight irradiation as well as under flow conditions.