Abstract
We report a one-pot base-free protocol for the oxidative olefination of benzylic amines
promoted by a hypervalent iodine reagent for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones.
Mechanistically, (diacetoxyiodo)benzene oxidizes the benzylic amine to the corresponding
imine, which, on reaction with a phenacyl(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide salt and an
in situ generated acetoxy anion leads to an α,β-unsaturated ketone. A wide range of
α,β-unsaturated ketones were easily accessed through direct oxidative olefination
of substituted benzylic amines in good to excellent yields and with high E-selectivity.
Key words
hypervalent iodine - benzylic amines - enones - oxidation - olefination