Regioselective Synthesis of 2-Vinylanilines Using O-aroyloxycarba-mates by Sequential Decarboxylation/Amination/Heck Reaction.

A new sequential approach for 2-vinylanilines utilizing aryl carboxylic acids as stable, inexpensive and widely available arylating reagents is described. Employing a Pd-POVs catalyst system, this protocol is not only overcoming the restriction barrier of decarboxylative coupling to ortho-substituted substrates, but also provides site-special to create new C(sp2)-N and C(sp2)-C(sp2) bonds. Mechanistic experiments suggest the cleavage of C(sp2)-COOH gives priority to C(sp2)-X bond in this reaction.