A Visible-Light-Driven, Metal-free Route to Aromatic Amides via Radical Arylation of Isonitriles

The photochemical metal-free carboamidation of aryl radicals has been exploited for the preparation of aromatic amides, including hetero-and polyaromatic derivatives, under visible light irradiation of arylazo sulfones in the presence of isocyanides in aqueous acetonitrile. The process was useful for the smooth preparation of the antidepressant moclobemide.