# Photoexcited Palladium Complex-Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertion into Inactivated Alkyl Iodides

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new method using light-activated palladium to insert isocyanides into inactive alkyl iodides, forming amides efficiently.

## Contribution

A novel photoexcited palladium-catalyzed method for isocyanide insertion into inactivated alkyl iodides is introduced.

## Key findings

- The method produces substituted secondary amides in good to high yields.
- 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine is hypothesized to play a key role in the reaction mechanism.

## Abstract

Isocyanides insertions represent an important transformation in the palladium-catalyzed reactions landscape. However, one of their most significant limitations is in the use of inactivated alkyl electrophiles. Palladium photocatalysis has been proven as a solid tool for the generation of alkyl radicals from alkyl halides, which may engage in subsequent transformations with a variety of reaction partners, closing the catalytic cycle. Herein, we report the mild three-component isocyanide insertions into inactivated alkyl iodides mediated by the catalytic activity of a photoexcited palladium complex. We investigated the scope of the reaction obtaining differently substituted secondary amides in good to high yields. We also investigated the mechanism, hypothesizing a key role of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine in the outcome of the reaction.