The photodecarboxylative addition of carboxylates to phthalimides: scope and limitations

Abstract

Intermolecular photoinduced decarboxylative additions of a series of alkylcarboxylates to N-substituted phthalimides gave the corresponding hydroxy-phthalimidines in moderate to high yields of 39-89%. The potassium salt of 1- adamantanecarboxylic acid predominately underwent simple decarboxylation when irradiated in the presence of N-methylphthalimide. In case of phthalimides carrying suitable leaving groups within the N-side chain, decarboxylation, retro-Aldol cleavage or decarbonylation preceded the intermolecular addition step.