N‐Bromosuccinimide‐Mediated Radical Cyclization of 3‐Arylallyl Azides: Synthesis of 3‐Substituted Quinolines

Visible light irradiation of N‐bromosuccinimide serves as an effective means to convert methyl 2‐(azidomethyl)‐3‐arylpropenoates and 2‐(azidomethyl)‐3‐arylacrylonitriles to the corresponding iminyl radicals via α‐hydrogen abstraction and subsequent extrusion of dinitrogen. Thus formed iminyl radicals then undergo intramolecular ortho attack on the aryl ring, affording methyl quinoline‐3‐carboxylates and quinoline‐3‐carbonitriles respectively.