Transition-metal-free and base promoted C-C bond formation via C-N bond cleavage of organoammonium salts.

A transition-metal-free and base promoted C-C bond forming reaction of benzyl C(sp3)-H bond with organoammonium salts via C-N bond cleavage has been reported. Benzyl ammonium salts as well as cinnamyl ammonium salt could couple readily with various benzyl C(sp3)-H species, producing the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. Late stage chemical manipulation enabled the specific 1,2-diarylethane structure of products transformed into useful olefin compounds via dehydrogenation, which further demonstrated the utility of this reaction.