Visible-light-driven metal-free aerobic synthesis of highly diastereoselective phosphinoylpyrroloindoles

A visible-light-driven metal-free phosphorus radical mediated construction of 2-phosphinoyl-3 H -pyrrolo[1,2, a ]indoles is described. This mild tandem phosphinoylation/cyclization protocol utilizes air as a green oxidant and proceeds in a short span of time at room temperature with high functional group tolerance, and excellent chemo- and diastereoselectivity. A tandem C-P and C-C bond formation promoted by visible light at room temperature in a highly diastereoselective manner is described.