Visible-Light-Induced Aminochlorination of Alkenes

Photoinduced -internal vicinal aminochlorination of styrene-type terminal alkenes was developed. The reaction proceeded without any catalyst, and the use of -chloro(fluorenone imine) as both a photoactivatable aminating agent and a chlorinating agent was essential. The imine moiety, introduced at the internal position of the alkenes, could be hydrolyzed under mild conditions to provide versatile β-chlorinated primary amines, the synthetic utility of which was demonstrated by several transformations.