Manganese(III) Acetate Catalyzed Aerobic Dehydrogenation of Tertiary Indolines, Tetrahydroquinolines and an N-Unsubstituted Indoline

A Mn(OAc)(3)center dot 2H(2)O-catalyzed aerobic dehydrogenation of five and six-membered N-heterocycles for the synthesis of N-heteroarenes is reported. Of note, this protocol can be applied to the dehydrogenation of tertiary indolines with various electron-deficient N-substituents. Preliminary mechanistic investigations support that a single-electron transfer pathway might be involved.

Automated summary

The Mn(OAc)(3)·2H2O-catalyzed aerobic dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles for the synthesis of N-heteroarenes shows promise and may involve a single-electron transfer pathway based on preliminary mechanistic investigations.