A simple and efficient two-step method for the construction
of
novel 2,4,9a-trisubstituted-4a,9a-dihydroindeno[2,1-d][1,3]oxazin-9-ones has been developed. The NHC-catalyzed aza-benzoin
reaction of o-alkenyl benzaldehydes with N-acylarylimines afforded 1-(o-alkenylaryl)-2-amido-2-aryl-1-ethanones,
which underwent regioselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization to furnish
the three-ring-fused heterocyclic products, generally in good yields.
The synthetic method displayed good tolerance toward the nature of
substituents, substitution pattern, and steric hindrance of o-alkenyl benzaldehydes. Based on this method, the synthesis
of unprecedented dihydrobenzo[6,7]indeno[2,1-d][1,3]oxazin-7-ones
and dihydropyrido[2′,3′:3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-d][1,3]oxazin-9-ones has been achieved by employing o-alkenylnaphthaldehyde and o-alkenylnicotinaldehyde
as substrates. The regioselectivity between 5-exo-trig and 6-endo-trig radical cyclization reactions of
different 1-(o-alkenylaryl)-2-amido-2-aryl-1-ethanones
were elucidated with DFT calculations.