Synthesis of β-Enaminones via Palladium-catalyzed Dehydrogenative β-Amination of Saturated Ketones

Abstract

A palladium-catalyzed method was developed for the synthesis of β-enaminones from saturated ketones using allyl acetate. In this reaction, allyl acetate acts as a hydrogen scavenger to α,β-dehydrogenate saturated ketones in the presence of a palladium catalyst and diamine ligand. This reaction achieved internal β-carbon–nitrogen bond formation for the first time via the dehydrogenation/conjugate addition protocol, eliminating the need to isolate unstable α,β-unsaturated ketones generated in the reaction.