Hydroaminoalkylation
is a powerful, atom-economic catalytic reaction
for the reaction of amines with alkenes and alkynes. This C–H
functionalization reaction allows for the atom-economic alkylation
of amines using simple alkenes or alkynes as the alkylating agents.
This transformation has significant potential for transformative approaches
in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine chemical industries
in the preparation of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles and shows promise in materials science for the synthesis
of functional and responsive aminated materials. Different early transition-metal,
late transition-metal, and photoredox catalysts mediate hydroaminoalkylation
by distinct mechanistic pathways. These mechanistic insights have
resulted in the development of new catalysts and reaction conditions
to realize hydroaminoalkylation with a broad range of substrates:
activated and unactivated, terminal and internal, C–C double
and triple bonds with aryl or alkyl primary, secondary, or tertiary
amines, including N-heterocyclic amines. By deploying
select catalysts with specific substrate combinations, control over
regioselectivity, diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity has
been realized. Key barriers to widespread adoption of this reaction
include air and moisture sensitivity for early transition-metal catalysts
as well as a heavy dependence on amine protecting or directing groups
for late transition-metal or photocatalytic routes. Advances in improved
catalyst robustness, substrate scope, and regio-/stereoselective reactions
with early- and late transition-metal catalysts, as well as photoredox
catalysis, are highlighted, and opportunities for further catalyst
and reaction development are included. This perspective shows that
hydroaminoalkylation has the potential to be a disruptive and transformative
strategy for the synthesis of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles from simple amines and alkenes.