title: Tin-free intermolecular addition of primary alkyls to imines via the dimethylzinc-air radical process.
abstract: [reaction: see text] A dimethylzinc-air initiator was applied to the generation of primary alkyl radicals from alkyl iodides. The addition of the generated primary alkyl radicals to N-tosylimines was accelerated by the action of boron trifluoride-diethyl etherate and copper(II) triflate to give the corresponding adducts in good yields after 2-3 h. Air oxygen was essential for the reaction to proceed, showing involvement of a radical process in the reaction.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasutomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akindele
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Umeki
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomioka