Visible light-promoted CO(2) fixation with imines to synthesize diaryl α-amino acids

Light-mediated transformations with CO(2) have recently attracted great attention, with the focus on CO(2) incorporation into C–C double and triple bonds, organohalides and amines. Herein is demonstrated visible light -mediated umpolung imine reactivity capable of engaging CO(2) to afford α-amino acid derivatives. By employing benzophenone ketimine derivatives, CO(2) fixation by hydrocarboxylation of C=N double bonds is achieved. Good to excellent yields of a broad range of α,α–disubstituted α-amino acid derivatives are obtained under mild conditions (rt, atmospheric pressure of CO(2), visible light). A procedure that avoids tedious chromatographic purification and uses sustainable sunlight is developed to highlight the simplicity of this method.