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 α-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 α-arylated amines in good to excellent yields.