Metal/Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO)-Controlled Chemoselective Cycloisomerization of (<i>o</i>-Alkynyl)phenyl Enaminones: Synthesis of α-Naphthylamines and Indeno[1,2-<i>c</i>]pyrrolones

Abstract

Synthetic methods involving chemoselective tandem reactions for the synthesis of α-naphthylamines and indeno[1,2- c ]pyrrolones starting from ( o -aklynyl)phenyl enaminones are described. When reactions were carried out in N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF) using a AgNO 3 catalyst, α-naphthylamines were obtained in up to 89% isolated yields within 2 h. Whereas indeno[1,2- c ]pyrrolones were produced in high isolated yields in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and CuCl catalysis.