Desaturation of Amides via Bismuth Photocatalysis

Abstract Bismuth redox catalysis has been intensively developed in recent years, enabling diverse transformations that were previously thought to be achievable only through transition metal catalysis. In this study, we present the desaturation of amides to generate the enamides, an important structural motif in pharmaceuticals, via bismuth photocatalysis. The protocol involves a combination of unique mechanistic steps recently uncovered for bismuth thus allowing for the translation of a canonical transition metal–mediated transformation into a main group–based catalytic system.