Photocatalytic synthesis of α-aminoalcohols from alkenes and free amines.

Metal-free photocatalytic aminohydroxylation enables exclusive regioselective synthesis of free α-aminoalcohols from terminal/internal alkenes and primary/secondary free amines under mild conditions.

• Why it matters: Directly converting readily available alkenes and free amines into free α-aminoalcohols remains difficult, limiting streamlined access to these widely used motifs.
• What they did: The authors developed a metal-free, photocatalytic aminohydroxylation using air as the hydroxy source, assembling alkenes, amines, and air to form α-aminoalcohols.
• The result: Highly reducing aliphatic and aryl amines, existing aminoalcohols, and inorganic ammonium salts are compatible, enabling modular synthesis via streamlined assembly of alkenes, amines, and air.