Deaminative meta-C-H alkylation by ruthenium(ii) catalysis.

Precise structural modifications of amino acids are of importance to tune biological properties or modify therapeutical capabilities relevant to drug discovery. Herein, we report a ruthenium-catalyzed meta-C-H deaminative alkylation with easily accessible amino acid-derived Katritzky pyridinium salts. Likewise, remote C-H benzylations were accomplished with high levels of chemoselectivity and remarkable functional group tolerance. The meta-C-H activation approach combined with our deaminative strategy represents a rare example of selectively converting C(sp3)-N bonds into C(sp3)-C(sp2) bonds.