Synthesis of Tetrahydrofurans and Pyrrolidines by Copper-Catalyzed Oxy/Aminoarylation of Alkenes.

An efficient copper-catalyzed inter/intramolecular oxy/aminoarylation of γ-hydroxy/aminoalkenes with diaryliodonium triflates is reported. Simple activation of these arylating agents with copper(II) triflate in dichloromethane triggers a smooth activation of the alkene, which is simultaneously trapped by the internal nucleophile, yielding, depending upon its nature, a range of highly substituted tetrahydrofurans and pyrrolidines. The cyclization was moreover found to be stereospecific, with diastereoisomeric alkenes yielding diastereoisomers of the cyclized product, and could be extended to oxyalkynylation.

A general synthesis of azetidines by copper-catalysed photoinduced anti-Baldwin radical cyclization of ynamides.

A general anti-Baldwin radical 4-exo-dig cyclization from nitrogen-substituted alkynes is reported. Upon reaction with a heteroleptic copper complex in the presence of an amine and under visible light irradiation, a range of ynamides were shown to smoothly cyclize to the corresponding azetidines, useful building blocks in natural product synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with full control of the regioselectivity of the cyclization resulting from a unique and underrated radical 4-exo-dig pathway.