Visible-light-mediated aerobic Ritter-type C-H amination of diarylmethanes using DDQ/tert-butyl nitrite.

A metal-free photocatalytic Ritter-type C-H amination of unactivated sp³ carbons using molecular oxygen as a terminal oxidant has been developed. By employing a co-catalytic system of 3-dichloro-4,5-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) and tert-butyl nitrite (TBN), this novel strategy provides a low cost, sustainable and scalable way to synthesise a broad range of secondary amides in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions.