Hβ Catalyzed Condensation Reaction Between Aromatic Ketones and Anilines: To Access Ketimines (Imines)

Regioselective Mercury(I)/Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Single-Step Approach for the Synthesis of Imines and 2-Substituted Indoles

An efficient synthesis of ketimines was achieved through a regioselective Hg(I)-catalyzed hydroamination of terminal acetylenes in the presence of anilines. The Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization of these imines into the 2-substituted indoles was satisfactorily carried out by a C-H activation. In a single-step approach, a variety of 2-substituted indoles were also generated via a Hg(I)/Pd(II)-catalyzed, one-pot, two-step process, starting from anilines and terminal acetylenes. The arylacetylenes proved to be more effective than the alkyl derivatives.

Preparation of Ketimines from Aryldiazonium Salts, Arenes, and Nitriles via Intermolecular Arylation of N-Arylnitrilium Ions

A transition-metal-free approach for the preparation of N-arylketimines has been developed from the direct reaction of aryldiazonium salts, arenes, and nitriles in a one-pot fashion with the consecutive formation of N-C and C-C bonds. This approach proceeds via an in situ generation of N-arylnitrilium intermediate, which then undergoes intermolecular arylation. This three-component strategy offers a step- and atom-efficient way to N-arylketimines from easily accessible reagents under mild reaction conditions. The characterization of stereochemistry of ketimine was achieved by X-ray crystallographic structure and theoretical calculation. Operational simplicity, shorter reaction time, excellent functional group compatibility, and scalability are the key features of this report.