Photoredox catalyzed reductive trifluoromethylation of imines via a radical umpolung strategy

Abstract

Visible light-induced radical umpolung chemistry is utilized to synthesize trifluoromethylated unnatural α-amino acid and amine derivatives. This approach utilizes photoredox catalysis to perform a single-electron-transfer reduction of imines generating a N-centred radical that eventually migrates to the C-centre followed by a radical–radical cross-coupling to deliver reductive trifluoromethylation products.