Photoinduced reaction of o-ethenylaryl isocyanides with organic disulfides in the presence of diphenyl ditellurides affords the corresponding bisthiolated indole derivatives via a radical cyclization process. The cyclization can proceed at room temperature upon visible-light irradiation and exhibits good tolerance to functional groups. Several organic disulfides also can be employed for this cyclization, and the corresponding bisthiolated indole derivatives are obtained selectively. In addition, the photoinduced reaction of o-ethenylaryl isocyanides with bis(2-aminophenyl) disulfide affords tetracyclic compounds in one portion.

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Upon treatment with (PhTe)(2) under visible-light irradiation, o-ethynylaryl isocyanides underwent intramolecular radical cyclization with introduction of telluro groups, affording the corresponding bistellurated quinolines.

When a mixture of o-alkynylaryl isocyanides and organic dichalcogenides such as diselenides or ditellurides was irradiated with light of wavelength over 300 or 400 nm, the intramolecular cyclization of the isocyanides took place to afford the corresponding 2,4-bischalcogenated quinolines selectively. The photochemical cyclization of 2-(phenylethynyl)phenyl isocyanide could also proceed in the presence of hydrogen transfer reagents such as tris(trimethylsilyl)silane, tributylgermyl hydride, alkanethiols, and benzeneselenol, providing the corresponding 3-phenylquinoline as the result of 2,4-dihydrogenation.

Upon photoirradiation of o-alkynylaryl isocyanides in the presence of iodine, the intramolecular cyclization of o-alkynylaryl isocyanides proceeds to afford the corresponding 2,4-diiodoquinolines in good yields. 2,4-Diiodoquinolines can be employed in transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.