Copper(I)-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Addition of Ynamides to Acyl Chlorides and Activated N‑Heterocycles

The addition of ynamides to acyl chlorides and N-heterocycles activated in situ with ethyl chloroformate has been accomplished at room temperature using copper iodide as catalyst. This economical and practical carbon–carbon bond formation provides convenient access to a variety of 3-aminoynones from aliphatic and aromatic acyl chlorides in up to 99% yield. The addition to pyridines and quinolines occurs under almost identical conditions and proceeds with good to high regioselectivity, producing the corresponding 1,2-dihydro-N-heterocycles in up to 95% yield.