Copper-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of ß-trifluoromethyl ß-diazo esters enabling the synthesis of ß-trifluoromethyl N,N-diacyl-ß-amino esters.

An efficient multicomponent reaction of newly designed ß-trifluoromethyl ß-diazo esters, acetonitrile, and carboxylic acids via an interrupted esterification process under copper-catalyzed conditions has been developed, which affords various unsymmetrical ß-trifluoromethyl N,N-diacyl-ß-amino esters in good to excellent yields. The reaction features mild conditions, a wide scope of ß-amino esters and carboxylic acids, and also applicability to large-scale synthesis, thus providing an efficient way for the synthesis of ß-trifluoromethyl ß-diacylamino esters. Furthermore, this reaction represents the first example of a Mumm rearrangement of ß-trifluoromethyl ß-diazo esters.

Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Alkenes by a Four-Component Reaction Cascade Mumm Rearrangement: Rapid Access to Functionalized Imides.

An electrochemical four-component reaction cascade Mumm rearrangement was developed. It is a rare example of in situ generation of O-acyl isoamides for 1,3-(O→N) acyl transfer. Inexpensive, commercially available arylethylenes, aryl or heterocyclic acids, acetonitrile, and alcohols were used as substrates. A wide range of aryl acids and alcohols were tolerated and provided imides in satisfactory yields. Subsequent hydrolysis of imides could be utilized to synthesize valuable amides and ß-amino alcohol derivatives.