Copper-Catalyzed Domino Reaction Involving Nitro as an Unexpected Leaving Group: Construction of Dibenzo-Fused Azepinone Ring

A copper-catalyzed new domino reaction allowed the facile and direct construction of the dibenzo-fused azepinone ring leading to an array of novel small molecules. The co-catalyst, ligand or additive free one-pot method afforded a unique class of functionalized derivatives, one of which showed encouraging PDE4 inhibition in vitro and apoptosis in vivo.