From Pyridiniums to Chiral Amines

Congratulations to Kristen Baker, Amanda Tallon (Fox Research Group), Olivia Bercher, and our Pfizer collaborators Matt Perry and Richard Loach on their method to prepare α-chiral amines via  the reaction of alkylpyridinium salts and sulfinimines (link)! It’s our first foray into non-nickel catalyzed reactions of alkylpyridinium salts, and proceeds via a rare thermally promoted SET of an anion–π complex of the pyridinium and carbonate anion.