A Catalyst-Free Benzylic C–H Bond Olefination of Azaarenes for Direct Mannich-like Reactions

Abstract

A highly efficient synthesis of trans-alkenylazaarene under catalyst-free conditions was developed via the addition of methylazaarenes to N-sulfonyl aldimines and a subsequent C-N elimination in situ. A one-pot procedure for this addition-elimination was also developed. The reaction could tolerate a broad substrate scope and give the corresponding alkenylazaarenes in high yields.