Highly Chemoselective Esterification from O-Aminoallylation of Carboxylic Acids: Metal- and Reagent-Free Hydrocarboxylation of Allenamides.

Metal-free hydrocarboxylation of allenamides with various functionalized carboxylic acids were achieved with complete regio- and stereocontrol (>49:1). This environmentally compatible transformation affords γ-acyloxyenamides with exclusive E-selectivity. Electron rich, electron poor, aliphatic, aryl, and heterocyclic carboxylic acids all gave excellent yields (avg. 89 %, 47 examples). We demonstrate the synthetic potential of this transformation in the late-stage modification of complex natural carboxylic acids and simple modification of the products to three-carbon synthons with ample opportunity for further diversification. DFT studies revealed that the reaction occurs in a stepwise manner through the intermediacy of a conjugated iminum species, which is rapidly captured by the carboxylate ion, resulting in the observed linear selectivity.