Efficient access to β-amino acid ester/β-amino ketone derivatives via photocatalytic radical alkoxycabonylimidation/carbonylimidation of alkenes

A photocatalytic protocol for the synthesis of beta-amino acid ester and beta-amino ketone derivatives is developed using simple and easy-to-synthesize oxime oxalate and oxime phenylglyoxylate as difunctionalization reagents. These bifunctional reagents were used to generate iminyl and alkoxycarbonyl/benzoyl radicals via energy transfer-promoted N-O bond homolysis and decarbonation. More than 40 highly functionalized beta-amino acid ester and beta-amino ketone derivatives were obtained in 60-86% yields by taking advantage of different kinds of olefins such as ordinary aromatics, alpha-trifluoromethylstyrenes and beta-CF3-1,3-enynes.

Automated summary

A photocatalytic protocol for the synthesis of beta-amino acid ester and beta-amino ketone derivatives using oxime oxalate and oxime phenylglyoxylate as difunctionalization reagents has been developed. This method allows the generation of iminyl and alkoxycarbonyl/benzoyl radicals through N-O bond homolysis and decarbonation, resulting in the production of more than 40 highly functionalized compounds.