Photoinduced Charge-Transfer Complex Enables ortho-Fluorobenzamide C–F Bond Activation in Isoindolinone Synthesis

Abstract Photoinduced reactions of o-iodo, o-bromo, and o-chlorobenzamides have been well-established for the synthesis of isoindolinones; however, the corresponding fluorinated substrates remain underexplored. Herein, we report the photoactivation of fluorobenzamides via a novel charge-transfer complex (CTC) pathway, enabling the efficient synthesis of isoindolinone derivatives. Central to this approach is the formation of a CTC between the tBuOK/DMSO anion and fluorobenzamides under light irradiation. This method is operationally simple, mild, and provides a practical route for accessing isoindolinones.