Photochemical Decarboxylative C(sp3)-X Coupling Facilitated by Weak Interaction of N-Heterocyclic Carbene.

While N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) ester has emerged as a powerful reagent as an alkyl radical source for a variety of C-C bond formations, the corresponding C(sp3)-N bond formation is still in its infancy. We demonstrate herein transition-metal-free decarboxylative C(sp3)-X bond formation enabled by the photochemical activity of the NHPI ester-NaI-NHC complex, giving primary C(sp3)-(N)phth, secondary C(sp3)-I, or tertiary C(sp3)-(meta C)phth coupling products. The primary C(sp3)-(N)phth coupling offers convenient access to primary amines.