Photocatalyzed C(sp)-N Bond Activation of Isonitriles for Mizoroki-Heck Cross-Coupling with Vinyl Arenes.

We report a Mizoroki-Heck reaction enabled by the visible-light-induced Pd-catalyzed C-N bond cleavage of isonitriles. Through a one-carbon activation of amines, we eliminated the need for atom-inefficient activating groups, thereby allowing isonitriles to serve as alkyl radical precursors. The utility of this protocol was demonstrated with a variety of (hetero)aromatic-containing isonitriles and differentially substituted vinyl arenes. This transformation expands the range of cross-coupling reactions that amine precursors can undergo.