Visible Light-Driven α-Alkylation of <i>N</i>-Aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines Initiated by Electron Donor–Acceptor Complexes

Abstract

The visible light-driven α-alkylation of <i>N</i>-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines was initiated through electron donor-acceptor complex photochemistry. The reaction can proceed smoothly without the addition of any photocatalysts, transition-metal catalysts, or additional oxidants. The proposed mechanism was supported by various mechanistic studies, and the reactive open-shell alkyl radicals were generally produced from an alkylamine and underwent radical coupling for alkylating a wide range of <i>N</i>-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines.