Visible-Light-Driven C4-Selective Alkylation of Pyridinium Derivatives with Alkyl Bromides

Reported herein is a general strategy for the photochemical cross-coupling between N-amidopyridinium salts and various alkyl bromides under photocatalyst-free conditions, granting facile access to various C4-alkylated pyridines. This approach exploits the intriguing photochemical activity of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes between N-amidopyridinium salts and bromide, which provides a photoactive handle capable of generating silyl radicals and driving the alkylation process. The robustness of this protocol was further demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of complex compounds under mild and metal-free conditions.