Catalytic (3+2) Palladium-Aminoallyl Cycloaddition with Conjugated Dienes

We describe the design and application of tailored aminoallyl precursors for catalytic (3+2) cycloaddition with conjugated dienes via a Pd-aminoallyl intermediate. The new cycloaddition reactions override the conventional (4+3) selectivity of aminoallyl cation cycloaddition through a sequence of Pd-allyl transfer and ring closure. A variety of highly substituted or fused pyrrolidine rings were synthesized using the cycloaddition, and can further undergo [1,3] N-to-C rearrangement to five-membered carbocycles with a different palladium catalyst. The utility of the (3+2) cycloaddition is also demonstrated by the preparation of various derivatives from the bicyclic pyrrolidine products.