Metal- and Photocatalyst-Free, Visible-Light-Initiated C3 α-Aminomethylation of Quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones via Electron Donor–Acceptor Complexes

We report a metal- and photocatalyst-free C3 α-aminomethylation of quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones with N- alkyl -N -methylanilines. The reaction proceeds through the formation of a photoactivated electron donor–acceptor complex between quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones and N- alkyl -N -methylanilines. The present method provides a mild and environmentally friendly protocol that exhibits good atom economy and excellent functional group tolerance to obtain a library of biologically significant C3 α-aminomethylated quinoxalin-2(1 H )-ones in good yields.