Manganese/cobalt-catalyzed oxidative C(sp 3 )-H/C(sp 3 )-H coupling: a route to α-tertiary β-arylethylamines.

Reported herein is an oxidative coupling reaction of an alpha-C(sp(3))-H bond of amine with a benzylic C(sp(3))-H bond through Mn or Co catalysis to provide diverse collections of alpha-tertiary beta-arylethylamines. This protocol features an easily installed and removable coordinating activation group, a wide scope of substrates, low-cost metal catalysts, easily available starting materials and synthetic simplicity.