Shedding light on Bronsted acid catalysis - a photocyclization-reduction reaction for the asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines from aminochalcones in batch and flow

A new asymmetric photocyclization-reduction cascade employing readily available aminochalcones has been developed. The reaction sequence has been achieved by unifying photochemistry and asymmetric Bronsted acid catalysis and involves photocyclization followed by Bronsted acid catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation in batch and flow.