Photocatalytic Synthesis of Indene Carbohydrazides via Skeletal Editing of Cyclic α-Diazo Ketones.

The photocatalytic reactions between 2-diazo-1(2H)-naphthalenones (DNQs) and hydrazines without using any catalyst or additive have been realized for indene carbohydrazide synthesis. This mild and sustainable method allows the synthesis of products with a broad scope based on a key process of skeletal editing in the six-membered cyclic enone moiety of DNQ through Wolff rearrangement. In addition, practical results have been obtained from both batch and continuous flow operations.