Photocatalyzed alkoxycarbonylmethylation of pyridines with α-diazoacetates†

Abstract

A photocatalyzed regioselective alkoxycarbonylmethylation of 2-aminopyridines with α-diazoacetates has been developed. This method provides a metal-free strategy to assemble 2-aryl-2-pyridylacetic esters via a direct pyridyl Csp²–H bond carbenoid insertion under mild conditions.