Palladium(II)/Lewis Acid Cocatalyzed Oxidative Annulation of 2‑Alkenylanilines and Propargylic Esters: An Access to Benzo[b]azepines

An attractive approach to valuable yet synthetically challenging benzo­[b]­azepines was established via palladium­(II)/Lewis acid cocatalyzed oxidative [5 + 2] annulation of readily available 2-alkenylanilines and propargylic esters. The protocol features mild reaction conditions and good functional group tolerance, constituting an array of benzo­[b]­azepines in yields of 30–75%.