Visible-Light-Initiated Decarboxylative Alkylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with Phenyliodine(III) Dicarboxylates in Recyclable Ruthenium(II) Catalytic System

A efficient and sustainable approach for the synthesis of 3-alkylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones has been developed through visible-light-mediated decarboxylative alkylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with phenyliodine(III) dicarboxylates. This photocatalytic alkylation reaction could be conducted at ambient temperature by employing eco-friendly PEG-200 as the reaction medium. Various 3-alkylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones were easily obtained through the present ruthenium(II) catalytic system, which could be successfully recycled five times without the significant decrease of its efficiency.