Photoredox Promoted Barbier-Type Reaction of Alkyl Iodides with N -Alkyl and N -Aryl Imines.

The reaction of organozinc reagents with unactivated imines is accelerated when performed in the presence of a photocatalyst under blue light irradiation. Coordination between Lewis acidic zinc iodide and the imine is a key factor responsible for the reaction efficiency. The method can be carried out using alkyl iodides under Barbier conditions.