Catalyst Free Hydroalkoxylation of 3‐(biphenyl‐2‐yl)‐2‐pyridones With Alcohols via Photo‐Cascade Reaction

ABSTRACT A concise method for the synthesis of trans ‐3‐alkoxydibenzo[f,h]isoquinolin‐1‐ones 3 via photo‐cascade hydroalkoxylation of 3‐(2‐biphenylyl)‐2‐pyridones 1 and alcohols 2 was developed. This transformation proceeds through a 6π‐electrocyclization and a 1,5‐H shift, forming an intermediate that subsequently undergoes a hydroalkoxylation upon irradiation at 313 nm. Notably, this one‐step method proceeds under mild, catalyst‐free conditions, providing a simple and efficient synthetic pathway with high atom economy and good yields.