Catalytic Asymmetric α-Acylation of Tertiary Amines Mediated by a Dual Catalysis Mode: N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Photoredox Catalysis

Cross-coupling reactions are among the most widely utilized
methods
for C–C bond formation; however, the requirement of preactivated
starting materials still presents a major limitation. Methods that
take direct advantage of the inherent reactivity of the C–H
bond offer an efficient alternative to these methods, negating the
requirement for substrate preactivation. In this process, two chemically
distinct activation events culminate in the formation of the desired
C–C bond with loss of H2 as the only byproduct.
Herein we report the catalytic asymmetric α-acylation of tertiary
amines with aldehydes facilitated by the combination of chiral N-heterocyclic
carbene catalysis and photoredox catalysis.