Visible light-promoted aerobic oxidative cleavage and cyclization of olefins to access 3-hydroxy-isoindolinones

A convenient and environmentally friendly synthetic route from 2-vinylbenzimide to 3-hydroxy-isoindolinones through visible light-promoted transformations via iron/disulfide catalysis and molecular oxygen oxidation has been developed. A range of 3-hydroxy-isoindolinones was obtained in moderate to good yields, which exhibit excellent functional group compatibility and broad substrate scope. Further mechanistic investigations proved that dioxetane might be a key intermediate being involved in the reaction.