Alkenyl aziridines can be successfully arylated in a three-component coupling triggered
by in situ generated benzyne with a simple copper catalyst (CuI–PPh3), without the need of any palladium salts. The corresponding allylic amines can be
obtained with good to high regioselectivity in mild reaction conditions with a variety
of cyclic and acyclic alkenyl aziridines. A new domino reaction with ethyl propiolate
to give tetrahydrophenanthridine was also found.
Key words
arylation - copper catalysis - aziridine - terminal alkyne - benzyne