Copper-Catalyzed C-H Oxidative Radical Functionalization and Annulation of Aniline-Linked 1,7-Enynes: Evidence for a 1,5-Hydride Shift Mechanism.

A new copper-catalyzed tandem C-H oxidative radical functionalization and annulation of aniline-linked 1,7-enynes with alkyl nitriles or acetone is described. This reaction allows the selective construction of 1H-cyclopenta[c]quinolines and benzo[j]phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones which rely on the substitution effect at the 2-position of the acrylamide moiety. The mechanism involving a 1,5-hydride shift process is proposed according to the control deuterium-labeled experiment.