Synthesis 2020; 52(20): 2899-2921
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1707136
review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Recent Advances in Photocatalytic C–N Bond Coupling Reactions

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Wing-Yiu Yu
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong   Email: wing-yiu.yu@polyu.edu.hk
› Author Affiliations
The authors thank the Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (Hong Kong) (153037/14P, 153152/16P, 153023/17P, 153017/19P, C5023-14G), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and the State Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (Hong Kong) for financial support.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 04 March 2020

Accepted after revision: 04 May 2020

Publication Date:
03 June 2020 (online)


Abstract

Catalytic C–N bond formation is one of the major research topics in synthetic chemistry owing to the ubiquity of amino groups in natural products, synthetic intermediates and pharmaceutical agents. In parallel with well-established metal-catalyzed C–N bond coupling protocols, photocatalytic reactions have recently emerged as efficient and selective alternatives for the construction of C–N bonds. In this review, the progress made on photocatalytic C–N bond coupling reactions between 2012 and February 2020 is summarized.

1 Introduction

1.1 General Mechanisms for Photoredox Catalysis

1.2 Pioneering Work

2 C(sp2)–N Bond Formation

2.1 Protocols Involving an External Oxidant

2.2 Oxidant-Free Protocols

3 C(sp3)–N Bond Formation

3.1 Direct Radical–Radical Coupling

3.2 Addition Reactions to Alkenes

3.3 Reductive Amination of Carbonyl Compounds

3.4 Decarboxylative Amination

4 Cyclization Reactions

4.1 C(sp2)–N Heterocycle Formation

4.2 C(sp3)–N Heterocycle Formation

5 Other Examples

6 Conclusion and Outlook