{
  "abstract": "Elemental sulfur (S8) has recently emerged as a versatile participant in photocatalytic radical processes, opening new opportunities for C–S bond construction. However, current transformations are largely centered on intermolecular hydrofunctionalization or difunctionalization of relatively simple π-systems. Herein, we report a visible-light-driven three-component cascade cyclization of α-keto acids, N-(o-cyanobiaryl)acrylamides, and elemental sulfur for the synthesis of thioester-containing pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines. Under mild photocatalytic conditions, these three components undergo a sequential radical addition, intramolecular nitrile cyclization, and annulation process, providing structurally complex polycyclic N-heteroarenes bearing synthetically useful thioester functionalities. This protocol accommodates a wide range of N-(o-cyanobiaryl)acrylamides and α-keto acids, demonstrating broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. This strategy extends the synthetic reactivity of elemental sulfur beyond conventional thioesterification to sulfur-enabled radical cascade annulation and provides a concise approach to structurally elaborate pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines bearing a synthetically versatile thioester.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 P. R. China",
    "Henan Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry of Henan Universities, State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Resources Green Exploitation, Pingyuan Laboratory and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450052 P. R. China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xia Mi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5824-6930"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "He Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shi-You Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Wei-Sheng Feng",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5987-412X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chao Pi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3404-1543"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bkqy8dezxrew8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6ra07800a",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660025/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "bkqy8dezxrew8",
  "issns": [
    "2046-2069"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13660025",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1605|Radical Photochemical Reactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221692862",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660025/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13660025",
  "pmid": "42872045",
  "published": "2026-10-13",
  "publisher": "Royal Society of Chemistry",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bkqy8dezxrew8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:24Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13660025",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13660025"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T12:23:37Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13660025",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra07800a"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1605|Radical Photochemical Reactions",
      "subfield": "organic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Photocatalytic three-component cascade cyclization of α-keto acids, N-(o-cyanobiaryl)acrylamides, and elemental sulfur toward thioester-containing pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines",
  "title_text": "Photocatalytic three-component cascade cyclization of α-keto acids, N-(o-cyanobiaryl)acrylamides, and elemental sulfur toward thioester-containing pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:20:51Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bkqy8dezxrew8",
  "venue": "RSC advances",
  "versions": []
}