Aza-Heterocycles via Copper-Catalyzed, Remote C-H Desaturation of Amines

The majority of medicines contain a nitrogen atom within a five- or six- membered ring. To rapidly access both such aza-heterocycles, we sought to develop a remote C-H desaturation of amines. Inspired by the Hofmann-Löffler-Freytag synthesis of five-membered pyrrolidines, we tackled the century-old challenge of synthesizing six-membered piperidines by H-atom transfer. We present herein a double, vicinal C-H oxidation by dual catalysis, entailing Ir photocatalytic initiation of 1,5-HAT by an N-centered radical and Cu-catalyzed interception of the C-centered radical to facilitate desaturation. By this mechanism, two C-H bonds (δ and ε to N) are regioselectively removed from unbiased, remote positions of an alkyl chain. Over 50 examples illustrate efficiency, selectivity, functional group tolerance, and medicinal utility of this synthesis of both internal and terminal δ vinylic amines and aza-heterocycles. Mechanistic experiments probe the alkylcopper intermediate, as well as kinetics and regioselectivity of the HAT and elimination steps.