TEMPO-Catalyzed Electrochemical Hydrobenzylation of Imines with Methylarenes via Radical Cascade Reaction

Herein, we report a TEMPO-catalyzed electrochemical protocol for the hydrobenzylation of imines using methylarenes that afford diverse α-benzylated amines. The present strategy features mild and metal-free conditions, the utilization of inexpensive chemical reagents, and good atomic economy. The reaction exhibits broad substrate tolerance, successfully accommodating imines bearing heterocyclic motifs and complex natural product-derived macromolecular frameworks. Mechanistic studies reveal a radical-mediated cascade pathway underlying the transformation.