Abstract
Herein, an efficient palladium(II)-catalyzed C–C coupling/cyclization reaction by
directed C–H activation of benzamidine and terminal alkynes has been developed. In
this practical and high-yielding process, the C–N bond acts as an internal oxidant.
It was found that molecules with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents
were suitable substrates for this transformation, and the expected products were obtained
in moderate to excellent yields, but when the benzamidine with ortho-methyl substituent is employed, the benzamidine compound may undergo the [1,5]-hydrogen
migration, and then Diels–Alder reaction with terminal alkynes to produce the quinoline
compound. The use of a single catalytic system to mediate chemical transformations
in a synthetic operation is efficient in building complex structures from simple starting
materials in an environmentally benign fashion.
Key words
C–H activation - internal oxidant - C–C bond coupling - terminal alkynes