Pyridyl Radical Cation for C-H Amination of Arenes

Electron-transfer photocatalysis provides access to the elusive and unprecedented N-pyridyl radical cation from selected N-substituted pyridinium reagents. The resulting C(sp(2))-H functionalization of (hetero)arenes furnishes versatile intermediates for the development of valuable aminated aryl scaffolds. Mechanistic studies that include the first spectroscopic evidence of a spin-trapped N-pyridyl radical adduct implicate SET-triggered, pseudo-mesolytic cleavage of the N-X pyridinium reagents mediated by visible light.