Decatungstate-Photocatalyzed Hydroamidomethylation of Azobenzenes with <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-Dimethylamides

A photocatalytic hydroamidomethylation of azobenzenes with <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamides has been developed. Using tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as a photocatalyst, an array of azobenzenes and <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamides reacted smoothly under visible light irradiation, affording previously unreported <i>N</i>-amidomethyl-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>'-diarylhydrazines in generally high yields. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction is enabled by TBADT-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) photocatalysis. This work is fundamentally different from the previously reported reaction of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide with azobenzenes.