N-Hydroxyphthalimide imidate esters as amidyl radical precursors in the visible light photocatalyzed C–H amidation of heteroarenes

Abstract

N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) imidate esters were designed and used as amidyl radical precursors in the visible light photocatalyzed C–H amidation of heteroarenes for the first time. The reactions can be conducted under simple and mild conditions with a broad scope of electron-rich heteroarenes and NHPI esters, affording the desired amidation products in moderate to good yields. Moreover, the mechanistic paradigm has been clarified on the basis of Stern–Volmer analysis and the measurement of redox potentials.