Visible‐Light‐Triggered, Metal‐ and Photocatalyst‐Free Acylation of N‐Heterocycles

Abstract A photoinduced acylation of N ‐heterocycles is explored. This visible‐light triggered reaction occurs not only under extremely mild reaction conditions, but also does not require the presence of a photosensitizer. The mechanistic studies suggest formation of EDA complexes prompt to harness the energy from visible‐light. Compatibility with a large panel of α‐keto acids as acyl precursors and an array of N ‐heterocycles clearly showcase the synthetic potential of this handy and green acylation protocol. magnified image