Photoredox catalyzed three-component tandem cyclization of 1,5-dienes with α-keto acids and water to access pyrrolidinones

This article reports a synthesis of hydroxyacylation substituted pyrrolidinone derivatives through regioselective tandem cyclization reaction of 1,5-dienes with phenylglyoxylic acid and water under visible light irradiation. This protocol features mild reaction conditions using a 12 W blue LED as the light source and CH₃CN/H₂O (1 : 1) as the solvent at room temperature. Additionally, a range of pyrrolidinones bearing two chiral centers can be easily accessed by this strategy, with the yields up to 78%, which makes the protocol more appealing toward natural product and medicinal chemistry development.