β-Phenethylamine Synthesis: N-Pyridinium Aziridines as Latent Dual Electrophiles.

β-Phenethylamines are widely represented in biologically and pharmacologically active organic small molecules. Here, we introduce N-pyridinium aziridines as latent dual electrophiles for the synthesis of β-phenethylamines. Bromide-promoted ring opening generates β-halopyridinium amines. Selective Ni-catalyzed C-C cross-coupling between organozinc nucleophiles and the benzylic C-Br electrophile affords a diverse family of β-functionalized phenethylaminopyridinium salts, and coupling is stereoconvergent in the presence of chiral ligands. Subsequent Ni-catalyzed reductive N-N bond activation within the β-functionalized phenethylaminopyridinium salts furnishes the products of formal olefin carboamination. Other reductive N-N cleavage reactions are demonstrated to provide access to free primary amines, alkylated amines, heterocycles, and products derived from N-centered radical chemistry. The developed reaction sequence can be implemented in the context of complex molecules and natural product derivatives. Together, the described results provide a general and modular synthesis of β-phenethylamines and significantly expand the utility of N-pyridinium aziridines as linchpins in chemical synthesis.