Multicomponent benzannulation of allylic P-ylides with isocyanates or aldehydes for construction of anilines and biaryls

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Aug 4;56(62):8865-8868. doi: 10.1039/d0cc03461d.

Abstract

The reactivity of allylic phosphorus ylides generated in situ from alkoxycarbonylmethylenephosphoranes and propiolates is investigated toward isocyanates and aromatic aldehydes, which leads to one-pot multicomponent benzannulations for efficient synthesis of polysubstituted anilines and biaryls, respectively. The mechanism may involve a tandem [2+2] cycloaddition/fragmentation/Wittig/cyclization/elimination/aromatization sequence.