have developed a novel and practicalmethod for the preparation of α-amino acid derivatives under mild conditions. In this approach, the photoexcited naphthalene thiolate acts simultaneously as a photoexcited single-electron reductant and a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst, enabling efficient metal-free radical–radical cross-coupling of formate with ketimines and aldimines.
The asymmetric synthesis of highly stericallycongested α-tertiary amines was achieved by an organocatalyzed kinetic resolution (KR) protocol, which were otherwise difficult to access. A variety of substituted N-aryl α-tertiary amines bearing 2-substitued phenyl groups were kinetically resolved through the asymmetric C–H amination reaction, affording good to high KR performances.