Visible-light-driven metal-free aerobic synthesis of highly diastereoselective phosphinoylpyrroloindoles.

A visible-light-driven metal-free phosphorus radical mediated construction of 2-phosphinoyl-3H-pyrrolo[1,2,a]indoles is described. This mild tandem phosphinoylation/cyclization protocol utilizes air as a green oxidant and proceeds in a short span of time at room temperature with high functional group tolerance, and excellent chemo- and diastereoselectivity.