Construction of a Bicyclo[2.2.2]octene Skeleton via a Visible-Light-Mediated Radical Cascade Reaction of Amino Acid Derivatives with N‑(2-Phenyl)benzoyl Groups

Bridged polycyclic ring systems constitute the core structures of numerous natural products and biologically active molecules. We found that simple biphenyl substrates derived from amino acids participate in a radical cascade reaction under visible light irradiation in the presence of [Ir­{dF­(CF3)­ppy}2(dtbpy)]­PF6 to enable the direct construction of bicyclo[2.2.2]­octene structures. Isotopic labeling experiments suggested that intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer is involved in the cascade processes.