Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Direct Cyclization of N-Methylanilines with Electron-Deficient Alkenes Using Molecular Oxygen

The oxidative direct cyclizaion of N-methylanilines with electron-deficient alkenes involving maleimides and benzylidene malononitriles through sp(3) and sp(2) C-H bond cleavage proceeds effectively under a CuCl2/O-2 catalysis to provide the corresponding tetrahydroquinolines in good yields.