EDA Complex-Mediated Aerobic Three-Component CDC Reactions of Quinoxalinones under Visible-Light Irradiation

A visible-light-induced Minisci-type three-component aerobic cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction of quinoxalinones with styrenes and acetophenones is described. The catalytic electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexation of quinoxalinones with TMSCl is found to be the key for oxygen activation, which initiates the oxidative radical formation of acetophenones under photocatalyst-free conditions. This three-component protocol provides facile and efficient access to structurally valuable highly functionalized quinoxalinones with generally high chemoselectivity and moderate to good yields.