Chemo- and Regioselective Magnesium-Catalyzed ortho-Alkenylation of Anilines.

A simple and efficient catalytic system for a chemo- and regioselective ortho-alkenylation of anilines is presented. The new magnesium-catalyzed reaction allows the use of a wide range of alkynes and anilines with different electronic and steric properties and provides free as well as protected anilines with excellent yields.