Access to Benzazepinones by Pd-Catalyzed Remote C-H Carbonylation of γ-Arylpropylamine Derivatives

A general method for the construction of seven-membered rings through Pd-catalyzed C(sp(2))-H carbonylation at the remote epsilon-position of gamma-arylpropylamine derivatives, including chiral alpha-amino acids, has been developed using Mo(CO)(6) as the CO source, furnishing richly functionalized benzo[c]azepin-1-one derivatives. The readily removable N-SO2Py protecting/directing group provides high levels of chemo-, regio- and diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, this method is amenable to the postsynthetic modification of complex molecules such as small peptides.