Reaction of an electrogenerated ‘iminium cation pool’ with organometallic reagents. Direct oxidative α-alkylation and -arylation of amine derivatives

We have developed an efficient direct oxidative α-alkylation and -arylation of carbamates based on the ‘cation pool’ method. Grignard reagents, organozinc compounds, and organoaluminum compounds are effective as carbon nucleophiles toward iminium cation pools generated by low temperature electrolysis of carbamates.