Photoinduced Site-Selective C(sp3)–H Chlorination of Aliphatic Amides

Herein, we report a new photochemical method for C(sp3)–H chlorination of amides which employs tert-butyl hypochlorite as the chlorinating agent and a household compact fluorescent lamp as the light source. The reaction proceeds via N-heterocyclic carbene SIPr·HCl-promoted N–H chlorination and subsequent photoinduced Hofmann–Löffler–Freytag chlorine atom transfer. The latter process is facilitated by (diacetoxyiodo)benzene. This protocol exhibits a broad scope and is suitable for site-selective chlorination of methyl hydrogen as well as methylene and methine hydrogen.