Controlling alkyne reactivity by means of a copper-catalyzed radical reaction system for the synthesis of functionalized quaternary carbons (Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry)

Abstract A terminal alkyne is one of the most useful reactants for the synthesis of alkyne and alkene derivatives. Because an alkyne undergoes addition reaction at a C–C triple bond or cross-coupling at a terminal C–H bond. Combining those reaction patterns could realize a new reaction methodology to synthesize complex molecules including C–C multiple bonds. In this report, we found that the reaction of 3 equivalents of terminal alkyne 1 (aryl substituted alkyne) and an α-bromocarbonyl compound 2 (tertiary alkyl radical precursor) undergoes tandem alkyl radical addition/Sonogashira coupling to produce 1,3-enyne compound 3 possessing a quaternary carbon in the presence of a copper catalyst. Moreover, the reaction of α-bromocarbonyl compound 2 and an alkyne 4 possessing a carboxamide moiety undergoes tandem alkyl radical addition/C–H coupling to produce indolinone derivative 5. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 502–508. doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.45