CuI/TEMPO-mediated aerobic oxidative sp3 C–H functionalization affording pyrrol-2-one derivatives

Abstract

5-Hydroxy-1H-pyrrol-2-ones represent a very important class of compounds. However, their syntheses rely on precursors that are exotic and commercially unavailable, or on multistep operations. A cascade reaction can evade multistep syntheses, but most substrates are not amenable to cascade strategies. We thoughtfully designed a cascade strategy, choosing the Knoevenagel product of a ketone and malononitrile as a very trivial starting material. This strategy afforded 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrrol-2-ones via a cascade of C(sp³)–H functionalization, directed nitrile hydrolysis and C–N bond-forming reactions.