K2S2O8-catalyzed highly regioselective amidoalkylation of diverse N-heteroaromatics in water under visible light irradiation

A K2S2O8-catalyzed versatile C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond formation with N-heteroaromatics and γ-lactams/amides was developed. Quinoxalin-2(1H)-one, quinoline, isoquinoline, phthalazine, and benzothiazole reacted with γ-lactams/amides to give the corresponding C(sp2)–H amidoalkylation products in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. This visible-light-induced photocatalyst-free reaction was conducted in H2O at ambient temperature, which comply with the principles of “green chemistry”. The new K2S2O8 catalytic mechanism was investigated with control experiments.