Access to Phenothiazine Derivatives via Iodide-Mediated Oxidative Three-Component Annulation Reaction.

Herein, a new iodide-mediated three-component annulation reaction of secondary anilines, cyclohexanones, and elemental sulfur is demonstrated, which allows access to various phenothiazines with the merits of formation of multiple chemical bonds in one single operation, high step and atom efficiency, readily available feedstocks and catalyst system, and good substrate and functional group compatibility. The developed chemistry capable of constructing novel phenothiazines with structural diversity offers a significant basis for further applications.