Pyrene-Based Organic Photoredox Catalysts for Carbon–Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions: Reductive Coupling of Aromatic Carbonyl and Imine Compounds

Metal-free photoredox catalysts built upon a pyrene core were developed for carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Among these catalysts, a pyrene derivative containing a urea moiety effectively facilitated the reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl and imine compounds under blue LED irradiation. This process provided the corresponding vicinal diols and diamines in good yields.