Photoexcited Nickel(0)‐Catalyzed Direct Decarboxylative Cross‐Coupling

ABSTRACT

Decarboxylative coupling is a key strategy for C─C bond formation in modern synthesis. Despite the abundance and diversity of natural amino acids, their direct decarboxylation remains challenging. Here, we report the direct decarboxylation of amino acids to generate α ‐aminocarbon radicals and their subsequent cross‐coupling, enabled by air‐stable nickel(0) complexes under photoexcitation without external photosensitizers. This mild catalytic system shows broad compatibility with diverse amino acids and aromatic functional groups, providing a new approach for their direct decarboxylation and functionalization.