A Divergent Approach to Indoles and Oxazoles from Enamides by Directing-Group-Controlled Cu-Catalyzed Intramolecular C-H Amination and Alkoxylation

A directing-group-controlled, copper-catalyzed divergent approach to indoles and oxazoles from enamides has been developed. The picolinamide-derived enamides undergo the intramolecular aromatic C-H amination in the presence of a Cu(OPiv)(2) catalyst and an MnO2 oxidant to form the corresponding indoles in good yields. On the other hand, simpler aryl- or alkyl-substituted enamides are converted to the 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazole frameworks via vinylic C-H alkoxylation under identical conditions. The copper catalysis can provide uniquely divergent access to indole and oxazole heteroaromatic cores of great importance in medicinal and material chemistry.