Visible-light-induced photocatalytic C[sbnd]H arylation-oxidation of vinylarenes: Facile access to (un)symmetrical 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones in water

Abstract

The synthesis of a number of (un)symmetrical 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones from readily available vinylarenes and arylhydrazines in water under aerobic conditions has been established using rose bengal visible-light photocatalysis. The reactions proceeded through a free-radical mechanism, in which the aryl radical formed from arylhydrazine couples with vinylarene to produce desired 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones via subsequent aerial oxidations. When compared to reported visible-light photocatalytic methods, the primary benefit of this protocol for the synthesis of (un)symmetrical 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones is free of incommodious caused by the availability and prior synthesis of precursors. Moreover, this procedure offers a number of important advantages that include eco-friendly, cost-effective, amenability to gram-scale synthesis and devoid of hazardous organic solvents and transition-metal catalysts.