Tandem Oxidative Ritter Reaction/Hydration/Aldol Condensation of α-Arylketones with Propiolonitriles for the Construction of 3-Acyl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones

A novel tandem oxidative Ritter reaction/hydration/aldol condensation of α-arylketones with substituted propiolonitriles has been developed. This protocol conveniently affords a wide range of functionalized 3-acyl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones through the efficient construction of four chemical bonds, a C-N bond, a C═C bond, and two C═O bonds, and the formation of one ring bearing an aza-quaternary center, which is ascribed to the strategical introduction of functionalized nitriles to this transformation. A reaction mechanism was proposed based on some control experiments.

Synthesis of Spiro[furan-2,1'-isoindolin]-3'-ones from 2-(4-Hydroxybut-1-yn-1-yl)benzonitriles and Aryl Aldehydes under the Action of Triflic Acid

The synthesis of spiro[furan-2,1'-isoindolin]-3'-ones from 2-(4-hydroxybut-1-yn-1-yl)benzonitriles and aryl aldehydes is demonstrated. It involves the initial formation of dihydrofuranylideneisoindolinone via intramolecular sequential Prins and Ritter reactions, followed by the ring opening of the furanyl moiety to generate N-acyliminium ions and alcohols for the final cyclization reaction, and the spiro-cyclic compounds are produced in moderate to good yields. It is a one-pot, three-component reaction in which one new quaternary carbon, two five-membered rings, one C-N bond, two C-O bonds, and one C-C bond are formed. The reaction is carried out with a Brønsted acid from 0 °C to room temperature within a short period of time.

Visible-light-mediated aerobic Ritter-type C–H amination of diarylmethanes using DDQ/tert-butyl nitrite

A metal-free photocatalytic Ritter-type C–H amination of diarylmethanes using O2 as an oxidant has been developed using a co-catalytic system of DDQ and TBN and offers a low cost, sustainable way to synthesise secondary amides under mild conditions.