An Efficient Approach to Access 2,2-Diarylanilines via Visible-Light-Promoted Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling Reactions

A straightforward protocol for the visible-light-promoted decarboxylative 1,6-conjugate addition of N-aryl glycines to para-quinone methides under transition-metal-free conditions is disclosed. This method provides scalable and efficient access to 2,2-diarylanilines with biological and pharmacologic potential in good to excellent yields (39 examples, up to 97% yield). The synthetic utility of this work has been illustrated in the efficient synthesis of 3-substituted indoline.

Automated summary

A straightforward protocol for the visible-light-promoted decarboxylative 1,6-conjugate addition of N-aryl glycines to para-quinone methides under transition-metal-free conditions has been successfully developed. This method provides a scalable and efficient access to 2,2-diarylanilines with biological and pharmacologic potential. The synthetic utility of this work has been demonstrated in the efficient synthesis of 3-substituted indoline.