PhotocatalyticRegioselective Alkoxycarbonylation/Cyclizationof 3‑Aza-1,5-dienes: Access to Ester-Containing Pyrrolin-2-ones

A direct alkoxycarbonyl radical-induced cascade reaction of 3-aza-1,5-dienes with alkyl chlorooxoacetates is reported. With this approach, an extensive range of ester-containing pyrrolin-2-ones are synthesized through photocatalyzed alkoxycarbonylation/cyclization with 3-aza-1,5-dienes under mild conditions. Moreover, dehydrogenative aromatization can proceed with the same photocatalytic system.