Decatungstate-Photocatalyzed\nHydroamidomethylation\nof Azobenzenes with <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>‑Dimethylamides

A photocatalytic hydroamidomethylation of azobenzenes\nwith <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamides has been\ndeveloped.\nUsing tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as a photocatalyst,\nan array of azobenzenes and <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamides\nreacted smoothly under visible light irradiation, affording previously\nunreported <i>N</i>-amidomethyl-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-diarylhydrazines in generally high yields. Mechanistic\nstudies indicate that the reaction is enabled by TBADT-mediated hydrogen\natom transfer (HAT) photocatalysis. This work is fundamentally different\nfrom the previously reported reaction of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide with azobenzenes.