The all-alkyl α-tertiary amino acid scaffold represents an important structural feature in many biologically and pharmaceutically relevant molecules. Syntheses of this class of molecule, however, often involve multiple steps and require activating auxiliary groups on the nitrogen atom or tailored building blocks. Here, we report a straightforward, single-step, and modular methodology for the synthesis of all-alkyl α-tertiary amino esters. This new strategy uses visible light and a silane reductant to bring about a carbonyl alkylative amination reaction that combines a wide range of primary amines, α-ketoesters, and alkyl iodides to form functionally diverse all-alkyl α-tertiary amino esters. Brønsted acid-mediated in situ condensation of primary amine and α-ketoester delivers the corresponding ketiminium species, which undergoes rapid 1,2-addition of an alkyl radical (generated from an alkyl iodide by the action of visible light and silane reductant) to form an aminium radical cation. Upon a polarity-matched and irreversible hydrogen atom transfer from electron rich silane, the electrophilic aminium radical cation is converted to an all-alkyl αtertiary amino ester product. The benign nature of this process allows for broad scope in all three components and generates structurally and functionally diverse suite of α-tertiary amino esters that will likely have widespread use in academic and industrial settings.

Molecules displaying an α-trialkyl-α-tertiary amine motif provide access to an important and versatile area of biologically relevant chemical space but are challenging to access through existing synthetic methods. Here, we report an operationally straightforward, multicomponent protocol for the synthesis of a range of functionally and structurally diverse α-trialkyl-α-tertiary amines, which makes use of three readily available components: dialkyl ketones, benzylamines, and alkenes. The strategy relies on the of use visible-light-mediated photocatalysis with readily available Ir­(III) complexes to bring about single-electron reduction of an all-alkyl ketimine species to an α-amino radical intermediate; the α-amino radical undergoes Giese-type addition with a variety of alkenes to forge the α-trialkyl-α-tertiary amine center. The mechanism of this process is believed to proceed through an overall redox neutral pathway that involves photocatalytic redox-relay of the imine, generated from the starting amine-ketone condensation, through to an imine-derived product. This is possible because the presence of a benzylic amine component in the intermediate scaffold drives a 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer step after the Giese addition to form a stable benzylic α-amino radical, which is able to close the photocatalytic cycle. These studies detail the evolution of the reaction platform, an extensive investigation of the substrate scope, and preliminary investigation of some of the mechanistic features of this distinct photocatalytic process. We believe this transformation will provide convenient access to previously unexplored α-trialkyl-α-tertiary amine scaffolds that should be of considerable interest to practitioners of synthetic and medicinal chemistry in academic and industrial institutions.

We report the discovery of an approach to functionalize secondary alkylamines using 2-halobenzoic acids as aryl transfer reagents. These reagents promote an unusually mild carboxylateassisted oxidative addition to alkylamine-derived palladacycles. In the presence of Ag(I) salts, a decarboxylative C(sp 3)-C(sp 2) bond reductive elimination leads to γ-aryl secondary alkylamines and renders the carboxylate motif a traceless directing group. Stoichiometric mechanistic studies were effectively translated to a Pdcatalyzed γ-C(sp 3)-H arylation process for secondary alkylamines.

Reported is the discovery of an approach to functionalize secondary alkylamines using 2‐halobenzoic acids as aryl‐transfer reagents. These reagents promote an unusually mild carboxylate‐assisted oxidative addition to alkylamine‐derived palladacycles. In the presence of AgI salts, a decarboxylative C(sp3)−C(sp2) bond reductive elimination leads to γ‐aryl secondary alkylamines and renders the carboxylate motif a traceless directing group. Stoichiometric mechanistic studies were effectively translated to a Pd‐catalyzed γ‐C(sp3)−H arylation process for secondary alkylamines.

Continuous extraction of bitter kola nuts, followed by liquid-liquid extraction and flash column chromatography leads to the isolation of garcinoic acid (-tocotrienoloic acid), as the main lipophilic component in a 0.8% yield of the initial dry weight. This compound, an oxidised member of the vitamin E family, was structurally characterised using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.