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Robert J. Comito, University of Houston

Title: "Amine synthesis by hydrogen-atom transfer and energy-transfer photocatalysis"

Abstract: Natural alkaloids and synthetic amines provide a wide range of bioactivities, and their synthetic elaboration remains a prolific source of new medicines. This talk will describe new methods we have developed for the synthesis of basic amines using hydrogen-atom transfer and photocatalysis. In particular, we have developed an intermolecular sp3 C-H amination protocol that delivers primary ammonium salts (R-NH3Cl) in one pot upon aqueous workup. Mild conditions, good site selectivity, and reactivity on unactivated sp3 C-H bonds distinguish our method from other radical C-H amination reactions. We have also developed an efficient system for imine triplet photochemistry, which provides primary amines by aminoalkylation of sp3 C-H bonds. This protocol is highly amenable to coordinating, redox-sensitive, and protic substrates, and this complements existing organometallic or photoredox conditions for imine alkylation. Finally, I will describe the covalent modification of commodity polymers, a process that promises new biocompatible and high-performance materials.