Enantioselective Incorporation of Amine Fragments onto Quaternary Carbons via Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

W Weisai Zu (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) H Haoran Wu J Jingwen Huo X Xiang Wan Z Zhen Xu Y Yongliang Huang (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) X Xinlong Luo (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China) B Buqing Cheng (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China) H Haohua Huo (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract The enantioselective construction of quaternary carbon stereocenters bearing amine functionalities represents a significant challenge in organic synthesis despite their prevalence in pharmaceutically active compounds. Herein, we report a versatile metallaphotoredox platform for the asymmetric incorporation of amine fragments onto quaternary carbons via coupling of alkene‐tethered aryl bromides with readily available α‐silylamines. This transformation proceeds under mild conditions without requiring organometallic reagents or stoichiometric reductants. Mechanistically, photocatalytic generation of α‐amino alkyl radicals enables their enantioselective coupling with chiral quaternary carbon‐containing alkyl nickel species. The method delivers exceptional enantioselectivity and exhibits broad functional group tolerance, providing access to a diverse array of complex drug‐like molecules bearing amine‐functionalized quaternary stereocenters. Mechanistic investigations revealed the intermediacy of cage‐escaped, stereodefined quaternary carbon‐containing radicals, which guided the development of complementary asymmetric hydrocyclization and difluoroalkenylation protocols. Our unified platform expands the chemical space of three‐dimensional quaternary carbon scaffolds, demonstrating the potential of metallaphotoredox catalysis in addressing longstanding synthetic challenges.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 44
Published October 27, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

W

Weisai Zu

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

H

Haoran Wu

J

Jingwen Huo

X

Xiang Wan

Z

Zhen Xu

Y

Yongliang Huang

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

X

Xinlong Luo

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China

B

Buqing Cheng

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China

H

Haohua Huo

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering