The amino group is one of the most fundamental structural motifs in natural products and synthetic chemicals. However, amines potential as effective alkylating agents in organic synthesis is still problematic. A unified strategy has been established for deaminative vinylation of the alkylamines with vinyl boronic acids by CÀ N bond activation under catalyst-free conditions. The key to the high reactivity is the utilization of pyridinium salt-activated alkylamines, with a base as a promoter. The transformation exhibits good functional group compatibility, and includes inexpensive primary amine feedstocks and amino acids. The proposed method can serve as a powerful synthetic method for late-stage modification of complex compounds. Mechanistic experiments suggest that free radical processes are involved in this system.

The mild base-promoted C−H bonds functionalization of amides to obtain α,β-unsaturated imines in good yields with high chemoselectivities was achieved. Control experiments show this process involves [2 + 2] cyclization/ring-cleavage reorganization.

Herein, we disclose a transition-metal-free reaction system that enables α-cyanation of sulfonamides through C–H bond cleavage for the preparation of α-amino nitriles, including difficult-to-access all-alkyl α-tertiary scaffolds. More than 50 substrate examples prove a wide functional group tolerance. Additionally, its synthetic practicality is highlighted by gram-scalability and the late-stage modification of natural compounds. Mechanistic experiments suggest that this process involves in situ formation of an imine intermediate via base-promoted elimination of HF.