Distannane mediated reaction of N-acyliminium ion pools with alkyl halides. A chain mechanism involving radical addition followed by electron transfer

Hexabutyldistannane was found to be an effective mediator allowing the reaction of N-acyliminium ion pools with alkyl halides. A chain mechanism involving the addition of an alkyl radical generated from an alkyl halide to an N-acyliminium ion followed by the one-electron reduction of the resulting radical-cation by distannane was proposed.