Trifluoromethyl radical triggered radical cyclization of N-benzoyl ynamides leading to isoindolinones

Under photocatalytic reductive conditions, trifluoromethyl radical addition onto an ynamide followed by cyclization on a benzoyl moiety produces diverse isoindolinone platforms with good yields. The selectivity of the radical cyclization, N -benzoyl vs. N -benzyl as radical acceptor and the E / Z ratio of isomers have been rationalized by modeling.