Transition-Metal-Free Deaminative Vinylation of Alkylamines

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 C-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.