TFA-Mediated DMSO-Participant Sequential Oxidation/1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Cascade of Pyridinium Ylides for the Assembly of Indolizines.

A trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-mediated cascade oxidation/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of stabilized pyridinium salts with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been developed in the presence of K2S2O8 and trimethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). In this transition-metal-free reaction, DMSO acts as a one-carbon source, thus providing a convenient method for the efficient and direct synthesis of various indolizine derivatives.