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.