Synergistic Acid-Catalyzed Synthesis of N‑Aryl-Substituted Azacycles from Anilines and Cyclic Ethers

A metal-free and efficient approach to N-aryl-substituted azacycles from arylamines and cyclic ethers is described. In this synthesis, the synergistic effect between Lewis and Brønsted acids is crucial to the ring-opening of cyclic ethers and the subsequent cyclization. The use of B­(C6F5)3 enabled the formation of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) from the reactants, and the resulting FLPs allowed ready access to the N-arylazacycles in moderate to good yields via further cyclization. Water is the sole waste resulting from the reaction, thereby making it an environmentally benign process.