Iminyl-radicals by electrochemical decarboxylation of α-imino-oxy acids: construction of indole-fused polycyclics.

Iminyl radicals are reactive intermediates that can be used for the construction of various valuable heterocycles. Herein, the electrochemical decarboxylation of α-imino-oxy acids for the generation of iminyl radicals has been accomplished under exogenous-oxidant- and metal-free conditions through the use of nBu4NBr as a mediator. The resulting iminyl radicals undergo intramolecular cyclization smoothly with the adjacent (hetero)arenes to afford a series of indole-fused polycyclic compounds.