Dual Nickel/Photoredox-Catalyzed Asymmetric Carbamoylation of Benzylic C(sp3 )-H Bonds

Abstract

Radical-mediated Hydrogen Atom Abstraction of Csp³ -H bonds has become a powerful tool for the asymmetric functionalization of organic feedstocks. Here, we present an asymmetric synthesis of α-aryl amides via carbamoylation of alkylarenes with isocyanates as electrophiles. The synergistic combination of a photoredox and a chiral nickel-catalyst, enables the use of readily available and neutral reagents under mild reaction conditions and provides straightforward access to pharmacologically relevant motifs in enantiomerically pure form.

Keywords: Amides; Nickel; Photoredox Catalysis; Radicals; Synthetic Methods.