Accessing molecular complexity from methane and other GaseousAlkanes via photocatalytic cascade cyclization

Abstract

The direct transformation of simple and abun-dant feedstocks into structurally complex moleculesremains a central challenge in modern organic synthesis.Herein, we report a method for the oxidative cascadecyclization of N-aryl and N-benzoyl acrylamide deriva-tives, promoted by methane and other gaseous alkanes.This transformation is enabled by a readily available ironcatalyst in combination with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide(NFSI) as the oxidant, proceeding under mild conditionsto afford a diverse array of N-heterocyclic frameworks inhigh yields. Late-stage functionalization studies highlightthe utility of methane in the synthesis of biologicallyrelevant scaffolds. Moreover, the Fe/NFSI system facili-tates a radical sampling regime that enables the selectivefunctionalization of less reactive primary C─H bonds.Overall, this work establishes a sustainable and versatileplatform for constructing molecular complexity directlyfrom gaseous alkanes.