Cooperative photoredox and N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed formal C–H acylation of cyclopropanes via a deconstruction–reconstruction strategy†

Abstract

Cyclopropanes are ubiquitous and key structural motifs in commercially available drugs and bioactive molecules. Herein, we present regio-selective acylation of aryl cyclopropanes with cooperative photoredox and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. This approach involves a deconstruction–reconstruction strategy via γ-chloro-ketones as intermediates and fulfills the formal C(sp³)–H functionalization of cyclopropanes.