Phenanthrenequinone (PQ) catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling of alkanes with quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones and simple N-heteroarenes under visible light irradiation.

A direct and convenient strategy to 3-alkylquinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones and other alkyl N-heteroarenes via a photocatalyzed alkylation of quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones and other N-heterocycles with commercially available, low-cost alkanes under ambient conditions using phenanthrenequinone (PQ) as a photocatalyst was developed. This transformation has advantages of environment-friendly protocol, mild conditions, good functional-group tolerance, and high yields of products.