UV promoted phenanthridine syntheses from oxime carbonate derived iminyl radicals

Oxime carbonates were found to be excellent precursors for the clean and direct generation of iminyl radicals under UV irradiation. Suitably functionalised iminyls underwent cyclisations yielding various phenanthridines and also substituted quinolines and isoquinolines. EPR and X-ray analyses of oxime carbonates provided insight into the mechanism.