Modular Access to Chiral Benzylamines via Ni/Photoredox-Catalyzed Multicomponent Cross-Electrophile Coupling

A Ni/photoredox dual-catalyzed multicomponent cross-electrophile coupling of N-vinyl amides with (hetero)aryl halides and (2°, 3°)-alkyl redox-active esters in the presence of cheap reductant Hantzsch ester is reported here. This reductive protocol provides direct access to various synthetically challenging chiral α-arylamides in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee, with the majority exceeding 97% ee), which can be further derived into chiral primary and secondary amines. Preliminary experimental studies shed light on the potential catalytic pathways.