Photoredox-catalyzed unsymmetrical diamination of alkenes for access to vicinal diamines.

A photoredox-catalyzed unsymmetrical diamination of alkenes by using N -aminopyridinium salts and nitriles as the amination reagents has been developed. Various vicinal diamines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, this protocol could be applied in the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that this methodology may undergo a radical pathway followed by a Ritter-type reaction.