Acylation of N-heterocycles <i>via</i> ligand to metal charge transfer on bismuth( <scp>iii</scp> )

We hereby report an efficient protocol for carrying out cross-dehydrogenative acylation of N-heterocycles tailoring upon bismuth LMCT. Under mild reaction conditions, the current protocol takes advantage of inexpensive, non-toxic BiCl₃ as a photocatalyst. The approach provides a simplified, high-yield pathway for acylated N-heterocycles, thereby advancing the catalytic utility of bismuth in organic synthesis. Further mechanistic investigations were carried out to probe the reaction mechanism.