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 through 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 versatile in situ generated catalyst is compatible with aliphatic and aromatic amines, shows high functional-group tolerance, and enables the late-stage amidation of complex natural products.