Photocatalytic Aerobic Dehydrogenation of N‑Heterocycles with Ir(III) Photosensitizers Bearing the 2(2′-Pyridyl)benzimidazole Scaffold

Photoredox catalysis constitutes a very powerful tool in organic synthesis, due to its versatility, efficiency, and the mild conditions required by photoinduced transformations. In this paper, we present an efficient and selective photocatalytic procedure for the aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of partially saturated N-heterocycles to afford the respective N-heteroarenes (indoles, quinolines, acridines, and quinoxalines). The protocol involves the use of new Ir­(III) biscyclometalated photocatalysts of the general formula [Ir­(C^N)2(N^N′)]­Cl, where the C^N ligand is 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)­pyridinate, and N^N′ are different ligands based on the 2-(2′-pyridyl)­benzimidazole scaffold. In-depth electrochemical and photophysical studies as well as DFT calculations have allowed us to establish structure–activity relationships, which provide insights for the rational design of efficient metal-based dyes in photocatalytic oxidation reactions. In addition, we have formulated a dual mechanism, mediated by the radical anion superoxide, for the above-mentioned transformations.