A Photo- and Electrochemistry-Triggered Redox-Neutral Cyclization Strategy to Access Cyclic N‑CF₃ Amides

While the construction of N-CF₃ amides has seen significant progress, the current synthetic repertoire is largely limited to noncyclic variants. Here, we report synthetic access to N-CF₃ isoindolinones. The developed redox-neutral cyclization leverages amino acid-derived N-CF₃ redox-active esters under photo- or electrochemical activation. Mechanistic studies reveal that N-CF₃ uniquely enables this disconnection through its distinct electronic impact, which enhances conformational flexibility and lowers the propensity for overoxidation.