Electrophotocatalytic diamination of vicinal C–H bonds

Double C–H amination The conversion of C–H bonds into C–N bonds is broadly useful in producing pharmaceutically important compounds from simple, readily available feedstocks. Shen and Lambert report a method to induce this reaction twice in a row at benzylic and neighboring alkyl carbon centers, using acetonitrile solvent as a convenient source of nitrogen. The method relies on successive electrochemical and photochemical activation of a cyclopropenium catalyst and yields hydrogen gas as a clean co-product. Science , this issue p.620