Photo‐Induced α‐Aminoalkylation of Sulfonylarenes with Alkylamines

The α-aminoalkylation of sulfonylarenes with alkylamines was found to be induced by photoirradiation. Here various types of alkylamines such as trialkylamines, dialkylamines, N,N-dialkylanilines and N-alkylanilines as well as sulfonylarenes containing an azole, azine, heterole or benzene ring are available. The reaction proceeds through homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) process consisting of addition of an α-aminoalkyl radical to a sulfonylarene and elimination of the sulfonyl radical to give the α-arylalkylamine, where photoirradiation is considered to induce homolysis of sulfonylarenes leading to generation of α-aminoalkyl radicals and make a radical chain operative.