Visible Light Photocatalytic Trifluoromethylation/SET Oxidation/Cycloaddition Sequences of 2-Vinyl Phenols: Multicomponent Synthesis of 4H-Chromenes

Visible light-mediated photocatalytic trifluoromethylation, single electron transfer (SET) oxidation, and cycloaddition cascades of 2-vinyl phenols with Umemoto's reagent and malononitrile were developed. This approach provided the multicomponent synthesis of trifluoromethylated 4H-chromenes via the in situ generation of o-quinone methides, followed by sequential cyclization.

Automated summary

A new visible light-mediated photocatalytic approach has been developed for the multicomponent synthesis of trifluoromethylated 4H-chromenes from 2-vinyl phenols via trifluoromethylation, oxidation, and cycloaddition reactions, involving the in situ generation of o-quinone methides followed by sequential cyclization.