Nickel-Catalyzed Alkylarylation of Activated Alkenes with Benzyl-amines via C-N Bond Activation

A nickel-catalyzed alkylarylation of active alkenes with tertiary benzylamines was achieved by charge-transfer-complex promoted C-N bond activation. The reaction proceeded through initial Ni-catalyzed C-N bond activation, followed by sequential radical addition, redox and proton abstraction with cleaved amine moiety in the absence of oxidant, and provides an efficient method to prepare various alkyl-substituted oxindoles and dihydroquinolinones in good yields.