Aminoarylation of alkynes using diarylanilines

Abstract

Intermolecular aminoarylation of alkynes is described, via addition of diarylanilines to alkynes and Smiles–Truce rearrangement. The transformation manipulates the C–N bond of anilines directly, with no requirement for organometallic reagents or transition metal catalysis. The enaminoate products are versatile building blocks for different classes of heterocycles.