Organic photoredox catalyzed C(sp³)-H functionalization of saturated aza-heterocycles via a cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction

Herein we present a novel protocol to access alpha-functionalized saturated aza-heterocycles, and a variety of nucleophilic groups, such as indole, naphthol, phenol, pyrrole, furyl, nitromethyl, and cyano, could be easily installed into saturated aza-heterocycles. Furthermore, a range of biologically valuable 3,3'-diindolylmethane derivatives could also be readily accessed under mild photocatalytic conditions.