Exploiting Iminoquinones as Electrophilic at Nitrogen "N+" Synthons for C-N Bond Construction

Org Lett. 2021 Sep 17;23(18):7008-7013. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c00867. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Abstract

New methods for C-N bond construction exploiting the N-centered electrophilic character of iminoquinones are reported. Iminoquinones, generated in situ via the condensation of o-vinylanilines with benzoquinones, undergo acid-catalyzed cyclization to afford N-arylindoles in excellent yields. Under similar reaction conditions, homoallylic amines react analogously to afford N-arylpyrroles. Additionally, organometallic nucleophiles are shown to add to the nitrogen atom of N-alkyliminoquinones to provide amine products. Finally, iminoquinones are shown to be competent electrophiles for copper-catalyzed hydroamination.