Aminoketyl Radicals in Organic Synthesis: Stereoselective Cyclization of Five- and Six-Membered Cyclic Imides to 2‑Azabicycles Using SmI₂–H₂O

Synthetic application of aminoketyl radicals [R–C^•(O^–)­NR′R″] formed by a direct electron capture into the amide bond is limited. Herein, we demonstrate addition of aminoketyl radicals to unactivated alkenes using SmI₂–H₂O as a crucial promoter based on the generic five- and six-membered imide template. Notably, this method enables direct access to aminoketyl radicals with wide-ranging applications in synthesis for the formation of C–C bonds adjacent to nitrogen via polarity reversal.