Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Alkynyl Carbene Insertion into N-H Bonds

Org Lett. 2024 Jun 14;26(23):4887-4892. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01345. Epub 2024 Jun 6.

Abstract

The first insertion of an alkynyl carbene into N-H bonds under Rh-catalysis is developed. Alkynyl hydrazone carboxylates are used as donor-acceptor carbene precursors and are exquisitely inserted into the N-H bonds of various amines, amides, and 1,2-diamines. A wide variety of 3-alkynyl 3,4-dihydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones and densely functionalized α-alkynyl α-amino esters are obtained in good to excellent yields. Further, chemoselective N-H insertion reactions, mechanistic studies, and various synthetic transformations for obtaining valuable heterocycles are demonstrated.