Photoredox-Mediated Asymmetric Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Enones and Tertiary Amines by Chiral Primary Amine Catalysis

Abstract A catalytic asymmetric dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction between enones and tertiary amines enabled by synergistic photoredox and chiral primary amine catalysis is reported. The reaction was proposed to proceed via the interception of iminium ion intermediate, in situ generated from photoredox oxidation, by dienamine at α-position, followed by isomerization, leading to aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman-type products with good diastereo- and enantioselectivity.