Department of Chemistry - PhD Student Seminar - The Synthesis of α-Aminosilanes: From Classical to Catalytic Strategies

Student: Mr. Jun WANG

Department: Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Supervisor: Prof. Guocheng JIA

Co-supervisor: Prof. ZHANG Xumu (SUSTC)

Abstract

α‑Aminosilanes represent a class of hybrid scaffolds that uniquely combine the distinctive electronic properties of silicon with the biological relevance of amines, rendering them important structural motifs in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis. Despite their significance, traditional synthetic approaches to α‑aminosilanes often suffer from harsh reaction conditions. This report highlights recent innovative synthetic strategies, focusing on stoichiometric or catalytic two‑electron processes as well as emerging photochemical single‑electron pathways. These advances have significantly broadened the substrate scope and, more importantly, enabled the efficient and stereoselective access to chiral α‑aminomethylsilanes. The methods are systematically classified according to reaction strategy, with an emphasis on catalytic systems, mechanistic foundations, and synthetic utility.