α-Benzylation of Carbonyl Compounds Enabled by Synergistic Copper/Amine Catalyzed Decarboxylation of Arylacetic Acids

作者：Wen, Kangmei; Feng, Mengxia; Gao, Qiwen; Chen, Chen; Wu, Yinrong; Zhou, Jiamin; Huang, Liangbin^*; Tang, Xiaodong^*

来源：Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 2023, 365(8): 1140-1146.

DOI：10.1002/adsc.202300084

• synergistic catalysis
• arylacetic acids
• carbonyl compounds
• decarboxylation
• benzylation

Herein, we report synergistic copper/amine-catalyzed reactions for directly a-benzylating carbonyl compounds with arylacetic acids. These reactions represent the first examples of decarboxylative oxidative synergistic transition-metal/enamine catalysis for a-functionalizing carbonyl compounds. The process features starting-material availability, good functional group tolerance, mild reaction conditions, and good-to-excellent yields. Dibenzylated products were formed in moderate yields under slightly altered reaction conditions, and some products were transformed into 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole derivatives by acid-catalyzed intermolecular cyclization reactions with indoles. Moreover, biological studies revealed that some products have anticancer properties and may be useful in drug-discovery studies.

• 单位
  南方医科大学