Electron Donor‐Acceptor Complex Enabled Photocyanation of Tertiary Amines with a Stable and User‐Friendly Cyanobenziodoxolone Reagent
Zimin Chen, Songlin Zheng, Zijie Wang, Zixuan Liao, Weiming Yuan
Abstract
Abstract A visible light‐induced photocyanation of tertiary amines by a stable, less‐toxic and user‐friendly CN reagent cyanobenziodoxolone (CBX) was developed. This cyanation process does not require any photocatalyst, oxidant, base or additives, representing a set of extremely mild and succinct reaction conditions and a broad substrate scope. In addition to the frequently used N ‐aryl amine derivatives, more challenging tertiary aliphatic amines (modified by a α ‐silyl substituent) can also be photocyanated smoothly. Mechanistic studies reveal that the cyanation reaction is enabled by an electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex formed by the interaction between the amine and the cyanobenziodoxolone reagent.