Palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization/dearomatization of N-benzylacrylamides with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides: facile access to azaspirocyclohexadienones.

An efficient palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization/dearomatization of N-benzylacrylamides with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides as alkyl radical precursors has been described. Various α-carbonyl alkyl bromides, including α-bromoalkyl esters and ketones, reacted smoothly to provide important azaspirocyclohexadienones in moderate to excellent yields. In addition, mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeded via a radical pathway.