Iron-Catalyzed para-Selective C-H Allylation of Aniline Derivatives

Org Lett. 2023 Oct 27;25(42):7683-7688. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03012. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Abstract

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H allylation of arenes offers an efficient and straightforward approach to construct value-added allylic arenes. However, these reactions are often performed with precious transition-metal catalysts and mainly limited to ortho-C-H allylation of arenes. Herein, we disclose a novel iron-catalyzed para-C-H allylation of aniline derivatives with allyl alcohols via a chelation-induced strategy, providing various allylic arenes in good yields with excellent regio- and chemoselectivity. A simple FeCl3·6H2O is employed as a catalyst, serving a dual role in the reaction: (1) coordination with N-arylpicolinamide to alter the electronic property of the aromatic ring and (2) reaction with allyl alcohol to form allyl-Fe species.