Visible-light-mediated amination reactions via nitrene intermediates

Photochemistry is a classic discipline in chemistry, and applications date back to the beginning of the 20(th) century, featuring light as the energy source. In organic synthesis, photochemistry takes up an exceptional role to access reactive intermediates, and the past decades have witnessed the development of major milestones and concepts, for example, in the utilization of radicals under photoredox or carbenes under photochemical conditions. Contrarily, the access and application of nitrenes under photochemical conditions remains largely underestimated. Nitrenes are monovalent, nitrogen-based reactive intermediates and are of prime importance for applications in modern drug discovery and agrochemistry. Typically, the pivotal nitrene intermediate is accessed under metal-catalyzed conditions requiring forcing reaction conditions, such as high reaction temperature or harsh oxidants that limit potential applications. In the past years, several groups reported on photochemical applications to open up new paradigms in amination reactions via nitrene intermediates, which will be discussed in this perspective.

Automated summary

Photochemistry, a classic discipline in chemistry, has witnessed significant developments in the access and application of reactive intermediates. This perspective focuses on the utilization of nitrene intermediates for amination reactions under photochemical conditions, which hold great importance in modern drug discovery and agrochemistry.