Palladium-catalyzed cascade Heck-type cyclization and reductive aminocarbonylation for the synthesis of functionalized amides.

A palladium-catalyzed Heck/carbonylative cyclization process has been explored for the synthesis of functionalized amides. By using nitroarenes as readily accessible nitrogen sources, a variety of amide products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with good functional group compatibility. Furthermore, a late-stage modification of a natural molecule is also achieved by this protocol.