Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Amination of Unactivated Olefins with Primary Aliphatic Amines

Direct coupling of unactivated olefins with primary alkylamines is considered to be an efficient but unknown method for the construction of complex amines. Herein we report a catalytic intermolecular oxidative amination of unactivated olefins with primary aliphatic amines based on the combination of a palladium catalyst, a bidentate phosphine ligand, and duroquinone. A range of secondary allylic amines were obtained in good yields with excellent regio-and stereoselectivity. Mechanistic control experiments revealed that the reaction proceeds by allylic C(sp3)-H activation and nucleophilic amination. The utility of the protocol is further demonstrated with the late-stage modification and streamlined synthesis of drug molecules.

Automated summary

This paper reports a new catalytic system for the efficient oxidative amination of unactivated olefins with primary aliphatic amines, leading to the formation of secondary allylic amines. The reaction proceeds through allylic C(sp3)-H activation and nucleophilic amination. The utility of this method is demonstrated in the late-stage modification and streamlined synthesis of drug molecules.