Photoredox Catalysis Enables Decarboxylative Cyclization with Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents: Access to 2,5-Disubstituted 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles

A novel approach to 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles derivatives via a decarboxylative cyclization reaction by photoredox catalysis between commercially available a-oxocarboxylic acids and hypervalent iodine(III) reagent is described. This powerful transformation involves the coupling reaction between two different kinds of radical species and the formation of C-N and C-O bonds.