Access to Amino Lactones through Palladium-Catalyzed Oxyamination with Aromatic Amines as the Nitrogen Source

Although the synthesis of amino lactones with various nitrogen sources has achieved great success, variants focused on aromatic amine counterparts still remain elusive. Herein, we communicate the intermolecular oxyamination reaction of aromatic amines and unactivated alkenyl carbonyl compounds under palladium catalysis. In the reaction, both primary and second aromatic amines yield the corresponding β-arylamino-γ-lactones efficiently. A key step in this process involves a PdII/PdIV catalytic cycle incorporating a 1,2-(C–N)/(C–O) dyotropic rearrangement. This reaction demonstrates mild reaction conditions and good functional group compatibility.