Copper-catalyzed [3+2] annulation of O-acyl ketoximes with 2-aryl malonates for the synthesis of 3-aryl-4-pyrrolin-2-ones

Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 Apr 27;59(35):5225-5228. doi: 10.1039/d3cc00367a.

Abstract

A copper-catalyzed [3+2] annulation of O-acyl ketoximes with 2-aryl malonates for the concise synthesis of 3-aryl-4-pyrrolin-2-ones has been developed. The advantage of this method lies in the use of O-acyl oximes as an internal oxidant to generate the nucleophilic enamines and electrophilic p-quinone methides concurrently. The subsequent nucleophilic addition undergoes selectively on the α-C of malonates.