Metal-free oxidative olefination of primary amines with benzylic C–H bonds through direct deamination and C–H bond activation

Abstract

An oxidative olefination reaction between aliphatic primary amines and benzylic sp³ C–H bonds has been achieved using N-bromosuccinimide as catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant. The olefination proceeds under mild metal-free conditions through direct deamination and benzylic C–H bond activation, and provides easy access to biologically active 2-styrylquinolines with (E)-configuration.