Visible-light mediated cascade cyclization of ene-vinylidenecyclopropanes: access to fluorinated heterocyclic compounds

A fluoroalkylation and cycloisomerization cascade reaction of ene-VDCP with ethyl iododifluoroacetate or perfluoroalkyl iodide upon visible-light irradiation is disclosed in this paper, affording the desired fluorinated cyclization products in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions along with good functional group tolerance. Mechanistic investigations were also performed with a light on/off experiment, fluorescence quenching experiment and quantum yield measurement, suggesting that a radical chain process exists in this process.