Tandem Photoredox Catalysis: Enabling Carbonylative Amidation of Aryl and Alkylhalides

We report a new visible light-mediated carbonylative amidation of aryl, heteroaryl and alkyl halides. A tandem catalytic cycle of [Ir(ppy)₂(dtb-bpy)]⁺ generates a potent iridium photoreductant via a second catalytic cycle in the presence of DIPEA which productively engages aryl bromides, iodides and even chlorides as well as primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl iodides. The versatility of the in-situ generated catalyst is illustrated by compatibility with aliphatic and aromatic amines, high functional group tolerance and the late-stage amidation of complex natural products.