transition-metal-free direct α-C–H amination of ketones has been developed using commercially available ammonium iodide as the catalyst and sodium percarbonate as the co-oxidant. A wide range of ketone ((hetero)aromatic or nonaromatic ketones) and amine (primary/secondary amines, anilines, or amides) substrates undergo cross-coupling to generate synthetically useful α-amino ketones. The mechanistic studies indicated