Harnessing In Situ Radical Oxygenation: Copper-Catalyzed Interrupted Azirine-Alkyne Ring-Expansion Reaction for the Synthesis of Pyrrolones.

Here we report a novel interrupted azirine-alkyne ring-expansion reaction with molecular oxygen for the direct synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolones enabled by copper catalysis. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the present three-component reaction proceeds via two copper-catalyzed sequential reactions, an azirine-ring-opening alkynylation and an amine-directed radical oxygenation, leading to the formation of interesting pyrrolone structures under mild conditions.

A nanoscale iron catalyst for heterogeneous direct N- and C-alkylations of anilines and ketones using alcohols under hydrogen autotransfer conditions.

Here, we report a commercially available nanoscale Fe catalyst for heterogeneous direct N- and C-alkylation reactions of anilines and methyl ketones with alcohols. A hydrogen autotransfer mechanism has been found to operate in these reactions by deuterium labelling studies. In addition, dehydrogenative quinoline synthesis has been demonstrated from amino benzyl alcohols and acetophenones.

Copper-Catalyzed Ring-Expansion Cascade of Azirines with Alkynes: Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyridines at Room Temperature.

The first intermolecular ring-expansion cascade of azirines with alkynes for the synthesis of pyridines, enabled by a copper/triethylamine catalytic system via simultaneous generation and utilization of yne-enamine and skipped-yne-imine intermediates, is reported. Experimental as well as computational mechanistic studies revealed that the role of triethylamine is crucial in deciding the reaction pathway toward the pyridine products. This process offers a novel, one-step, direct, and practical strategy for the rapid construction of highly substituted pyridines under exceedingly mild conditions, and an installed alkyne functionality.