Palladium-catalyzed C-H dimethylamination of 1-chloromethyl naphthalenes with N , N -dimethylformamide as the dimethyl amino source.

Palladium-catalyzed remote C-H dimethylamination of 1-chloromethylnaphthalenes using N , N -dimethylformamide as the dimethylamino source is described for the first time. The dimethylamination took place exclusively at the 4-position of 1-chloromethylnaphthalenes in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran under mild conditions to afford 1-( N , N -dimethylamino)-4-alkylnaphthalenes in good to high yields. The halogen atom remained intact during the dimethylamination of 1-chloromethylnaphthalenes. A P,N bidentate ligand was conveniently synthesized and successfully utilized as the ligand in the Kumada-Corriu reaction.