Visible Light-Induced Oxidative Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling of Glycine Esters with β-Naphthols: Access to 1,3-Benzoxazines.

A direct aerobic oxidative dehydrogenative coupling reaction of glycine esters with β-naphthols has been achieved via the synergistic combination of photoredox catalysis and Lewis acid catalysis. A wide range of glycine esters and β-naphthols are suitable substrates for this reaction. A variety of 1,3-benzoxazines were obtained in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, this protocol could be performed on a gram-scale without considerable loss in activity.