Photodecarboxylative benzylations of phthalimides

Abstract Photoadditions of phenylacetates to phthalimides give the corresponding benzylated hydroxyphthalimidines in moderate to high yields of 29–90%. With 2-phenylpropanoate, photoaddition affords a diastereoisomeric mixture in a de of 24% in favour of the like -diastereoisomer. l -3-Phenyl lactate and 2-oxo-3-phenylpropanoate both furnish the benzylated product through subsequent loss of formaldehyde and decarbonylation, respectively.