Transition-Metal- and Light-Free Directed Amination of Remote Unactivated C(sp3)–H Bonds of Alcohols

Due to the great value of amino alcohols, new methods for their synthesis are in high demand. Abundant aliphatic alcohols represent the ideal feedstock for the method development toward this important motif. To date, transition-metal-catalyzed approaches for the directed remote amination of alcohols have been well established. Yet, they have certain disadvantages such as the use of expensive catalysts and limited scope. Very recently, transition-metal-free visible-light-induced radical approaches have emerged as new powerful tools for directed remote amination of alcohols. Relying on 1,5-HAT reactivity, these methods are limited to β - or δ-amination only. Herein, we report a novel transition-metal- and visible-light-free room-temperature radical approach for remote β -, γ-, and δ-C(sp3)-N bond formation in aliphatic alcohols using mild basic conditions and readily available diazonium salt reagents.