Ligand-controlled Copper-catalyzed Carboamination Reactions of Styrenes and 1,3-Enynes to Access Diverse Imides

Abstract

The multi-component reaction among alkenes, nitriles and carboxylic acids via the radical Ritter-type process is one of the most convenient and efficient methods for obtaining imides. However, these multi-component reactions still have some drawbacks, such as a limited substrate scope. More importantly, new strategies and methods should be developed to achieve selective multi-component reactions. Herein, we described a ligand-controlled copper-catalyzed multi-component reactions to access diverse imides via HAT strategy from the readily available starting material. In this novel methodology, the decomposition of TBPB could be regulated by altering the copper catalyst and ligands, thereby controlling the concentration of the in-situ generated benzoic acid anions, achieving the selective multi-component coupling reactions. The present method exhibits a broad substrate scope for alkenes and 1,3-enynes with good functional group compatibility, high atomic economy and excellent late-stage molecular modifications, demonstrating the significant advantages in practical utility.