Access to 2,3-Fused Pyrroles via Visible Light Driven Coupling of α-Azidochalcones with 1/2-Naphthols, or 2-Hydroxy-1,4-Naphthoquinone.

α-Azidochalcones were coupled with 1/2-naphthols or 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone using Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 as a photocatalyst under blue LED light irradiation to yield 2,3-fused pyrroles in high yields (68-84%). The overall transformation involves photosensitized decomposition of α-azidochalcones into highly reactive 2 H-azirines which are trapped by 1/2-naphthols or 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, leading to the construction of two new C-N and one new C-C bonds.