Photocatalytic radical cyclization of N -( o -cyanobiaryl)acrylamides with oxime esters.

A visible-light-mediated radical cascade cyclization of N -( o -cyanobiaryl)acrylamides with oxime esters for the assembly of acyl-containing pyrido[4,3,2- gh ]phenanthridines has been developed. The present protocol tolerates a wide range of oxime esters through a single reaction via fragmentation, radical addition, nitrile insertion, and cyclization under mild conditions.