Photoredox-Catalysed Decarboxylative Alkylation of N-Heteroarenes with N-(Acyloxy)phthalimides.

An iridium photoredox catalyst in combination with either a stoichiometric amount of Brønsted acid or a catalytic amount of Lewis acid is capable of catalyzing regioselective alkylation of N-heteroarenes with N-(acyloxy)phthalimides at room temperature under irradiation. A broad range of N-heteroarenes can be alkylated using a variety of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that an Ir /Ir redox catalytic cycle is responsible for the observed reactivity.