Silver-catalyzed decarboxylative radical cascade cyclization toward benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones

Abstract

A simple and efficient decarboxylative radical addition/cyclization strategy was developed, by which a wide range of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6(5H)-ones were prepared in one-pot via reaction of functionalized 2-arylbenzoimidazoles and carboxylic acids in the presence of K₂S₂O₈/AgNO₃ under mild reaction conditions.