Photocleavage coupling reactions between cyclohexa-2,4-dienone sulfone derivatives and amines by visible light irradiation

A stable sulfone derivative of 2,4,6-trimethylcyclohexa-2,4-diene-1-one (7) undergoes facile ring cleavage under visible light to produce a ketene intermediate, which could be efficiently captured by amines to give amides even in the presence of competing nucleophiles such as water and ethanol.