Copper-catalysed amination of alkyl iodides enabled by halogen-atom transfer

Despite the fact that nucleophilic displacement (SN2) of alkyl halides with nitrogen nucleophiles is one first reactions introduced in organic chemistry teaching, its practical utilization largely limited to unhindered (primary) or activated (?-carbonyl, benzylic) substrates. Here, we demonstrate an alternative amination strategy where iodides are used as radical precursors instead electrophiles. Use ?-aminoalkyl radicals enables efficient conversion into corresponding by halogen-atom transfer, while copper catalysis assembles sp3 C–N bonds at room temperature. The process provides SN2-like programmability, and application late-stage functionalization several densely functionalized pharmaceuticals demonstrates utility preparation valuable N-alkylated drug analogues. SN2 reaction essential chemistry, but substrate scope limited. Now, a based on transfer using coupling secondary N-nucleophiles programmability.