Photocatalytic radical arylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides to 3-benzyl oxindoles

A photocatalytic tandem radical arylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with diaryliodonium triflates at room temperature affords 3-(benzyl)oxindoles in moderate to good yields. The diaryliodonium triflates upon blue visible light irradiation in the presence of Ir(ppy)₂(dtbbpy) · PF₆ as the photocatalyst release aryl radicals which would add at the double bond of the acrylamide to initiate the cyclization involving the N-aryl substituent.