Visible-Light-Induced α-Amino C-H Bond Arylation Enabled by Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes

Enabled by electron donor-acceptor complexes, a novel visible-light-induced alpha-amino C-H bond arylation protocol, without a photoredox catalyst, has been disclosed. The protocol does not require any transition metal, oxidant, or exclusion of oxygen or moisture. A direct irradiation of the mixture of tertiary amines and benzonitriles with visible light in N,N-diethylethanamide in the presence of Cs2CO3 afforded a-arylated amines in good to excellent yields.

Automated summary

A novel visible-light-induced alpha-amino C-H bond arylation protocol has been discovered, enabled by electron donor-acceptor complexes. This method does not require a photoredox catalyst, transition metal, oxidant, or exclusion of oxygen or moisture. High yields of arylated amines were obtained by directly irradiating a mixture of tertiary amines and benzonitriles with visible light in the presence of Cs2CO3 in N,N-diethylethanamide.