Visible-Light Photocatalytic Synthesis of Amines from Imines via Transfer Hydrogenation Using Quantum Dots as Catalysts

CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) can be used as stable and highly active photoredox catalysts for efficient transfer hydrogenation of imines to amines with thiophenol as a hydrogen atom donor. This reaction proceeds via a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) from the QDs conduction band to the protonated imine followed by hydrogen atom transfer from the thiophenol to the α-aminoalkyl radical. This precious metal free transformation is easy to scale up and can be carried out by a one-pot protocol directly from aldehyde, amine, and thiophenol. Additional advantageous features of this protocol include a wide substrate scope, high yield of the amine products, extremely low catalyst loading (0.001 mol %), high turnover number (10 5 ), and the mild reaction conditions of using visible light or sun light at room temperature in neutral media.