A General Carbonyl Alkylative Amination Process for Tertiary Amine Synthesis

We report a practical and general solution to this long-standing synthetic challenge can be accomplished by addition of alkyl radicals to all alkyl-iminium ions. The process is mediated by the action of visible light and a simple silane reducing agent, establishing a chain process that permits the combination of an extremely wide range of aldehydes and secondary amines with alkyl halides.