Visible-light-induced acridinium-catalyzed selective N-dealkylation of N-heterocycles†

We have developed an efficient and general strategy for N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS)-promoted N-dealkylation of aza-heterocycles via acridinium-photocatalyzed electron transfer and hydrogen atom transfer. This approach effectively obviates the need for transition metal catalysis and features wide substrate scope as well as exclusive chemo-selectivity. Remarkably, the method allowed the deprotection of the privileged but stable N-alkyl group, thus filling a gap in the practical N-dealkylation of N-heteroaromatics.