Redox-neutral and metal-free synthesis of 3-(arylmethyl)chroman-4-ones via visible-light-driven alkene acylarylation.

A metal- and aldehyde-free visible-light-driven photoredox-neutral alkene acylarylation with readily available cyanoarenes is described. A variety of 3-(arylmethyl)chroman-4-ones (i.e., homoisoflavonoids) and analogs are efficiently synthesized with good functional group tolerance. This mild protocol relies on a phosphoranyl radical-mediated acyl radical-initiated cyclization and selective radical-radical coupling sequence, and is also further highlighted by subsequent derivatization to chromone and 2 H -chromene as well as its application in the three-component alkene acylarylation.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2022 Ding, Yu, Ren, Lu, Fu, Zhang, Wang, Bai, Hao, Yang, Wei, Yi and Wei.)