Iron-catalyzed C-C bond formation at alpha-position of aliphatic amines via C-H bond activation through 1,5-hydrogen transfer.

C-C bond formation reactions that take place through organoiron species sometimes exhibit radical-like character. The reaction of N-(2-iodophenylmethyl)dialkylamine with a Grignard or diorganozinc reagent in the presence of a catalytic amount of Fe(acac)(3) gives the product resulting from arylation, alkenylation, or alkylation of the sp(3) C-H bond next to the amine group in good to excellent yield. Mechanistic studies including labeling experiments indicate that the reaction involves radical translocation triggered by the formation of a radical-like species by removal of the iodide group.