1-Acryloyl-2-cyanoindoles were found to be novel and efficient skeletons in visible-light-induced persulfate-promoted cascade cyclization reactions. With this transition-metal-free photocatalytic procedure, various sulfonated/thiocyanated pyrrolo[1,2a]indolediones were synthesized from 1-acryloyl-2-cyanoindoles with sulfonyl hydrazides/NH 4 SCN at room temperature under mild reaction conditions.

A photocatalytic strategy for the controllable aroylation or diaroylation of allyl sulfones was established by using tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) photocatalyst and aldehydes as radical precursors....

The Ce(III)-photocatalyzed synthesis of amides from carboxylic acids and aryl isocyanates was developed. The reaction includes the formation of alkyl radicals from carboxylic acids followed by radical addition to the electron-deficient carbon of isocyanate.

3-(2-(Ethynyl)phenyl)quinazolinones were designed and synthesized as a class of novel and efficient skeletons for phosphorylation/cyclization reactions. Under visible light irradiation, a series of phosphorylated quinolino[2,1-b]quinazolinones (35 examples, up to 87% yield) were first synthesized from 3-(2-(ethynyl)phenyl)quinazolinones and diarylphosphine oxides by using 4CzIPN as a photocatalyst under mild conditions. This reaction was also applicable under sunlight irradiation. Moreover, the reaction efficiency could be significantly improved under continuous-flow conditions.

A series of zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn2S4) were synthesized by solvothermal methods in different solvents. After characterizations, the ZnIn2S4 prepared in ethanol (i.e., ZIS-1) showed the highest photocurrent density. With the ZIS-1 as a photocatalyst, the direct C–H azolation of N-heterocycles including quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones, quinazoline, and 2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-ones (32 examples) was realized in an air atmosphere under blue light (456 nm). More importantly, the microspherical photocatalyst ZIS-1 is stable in the catalytic process and can be used at least five times while the reactivity remains unchanged. In addition, this practical approach is also applicable to some other complex molecules of interest, such as ibuprofen and isoxepac.