Polyoxometalate-Supported Aminocatalyst for the Photocatalytic Direct Synthesis of Imines from Alkenes and Amines

Developing efficient photocatalysts for direct oxidative coupling of alkenes and amines with O 2 under mild conditions is very significant. Herein, ZnW–PYI is well-designed by assembling a [PZnW 11 O 39 (H 2 O)] 5– photooxidation catalyst and chiral aminocatalyst pyrrolidine-2-ylimidazole (PYI) via a coordination model. ZnW–PYI efficiently catalyzed the synthesis of imines from alkenes and amines using O 2 as the oxidant through nucleophilic catalysis by employing pyrrolidine as an organocatalyst. Combining a polyoxometalate and PYI within one single framework is an effective approach not only for stabilization and heterogenization of the redox-active catalyst and aminocatalyst but also for realization of compatibility between the reaction intermediates and synergy of multiple catalytic cycles.