N,N-Dialkyl-1-pyrenylamine-based photoredox catalysts were synthesized and applied to light-driven reductive coupling reactions under blue irradiation. The catalysts exhibited comparable activity in the reductive coupling of benzaldehyde, affording the desired 1,2-diols in good yields. Extension of the substrate scope demonstrated that light-driven reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds and imines using N,N-dimethyl-1-pyrenylamine proceeded efficiently, yielding 1,2-diols and 1,2-diamine, respectively.
Ogura et al. (Mon,) studied this question.