Matsuda-Heck arylation of itaconates: a versatile approach to heterocycles from a renewable resource

Itaconic acid esters and hemiesters undergo Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions with arene diazonium salts in high to excellent yields. The coupling products of ortho-nitro arene diazonium salts can be converted in one or two steps to benzazepine-2-ones.

Automated summary

Itaconic acid esters and hemiesters undergo efficient Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions with arene diazonium salts, leading to the synthesis of benzazepine-2-ones in one to two steps with high yields.