Visible-Light-Mediated Carbonyl Alkylative Amination to All-Alkyl α-Tertiary Amino Acid Derivatives

The all-alkyl α-tertiary amino acid scaffold represents an important structural feature in many biologically and pharmaceutically relevant molecules. Syntheses of this class molecule, however, often involve multiple steps require activating auxiliary groups on the nitrogen atom or tailored building blocks. Here, we report a straightforward, single-step, modular methodology for synthesis esters. This new strategy uses visible light silane reductant to bring about carbonyl alkylative amination reaction that combines wide range primary amines, α-ketoesters, alkyl iodides form functionally diverse Bronsted acid-mediated situ condensation amine α-ketoester delivers corresponding ketiminium species, which undergoes rapid 1,2-addition radical (generated from iodide by action reductant) aminium cation. Upon polarity-matched irreversible hydrogen transfer electron rich silane, electrophilic cation is converted ester product. benign nature process allows broad scope all three components generates structurally suite esters will likely have widespread use academic industrial settings.