Aryne-Induced Novel Tandem 1,2-Addition/(3+2) Cycloaddition to Generate Imidazolidines and Pyrrolidines

Reactions of HDDA Benzynes with C,N-Diarylimines (ArCH=NAr')

o-Benzynes can be utilized to construct heterocyclic motifs using various nucleophilic and cycloaddition trapping reactions. Acridines have been synthesized by capture of C,N-diarylimines with benzynes generated by classical methods (i.e., from ortho-elimination of precursor arene compounds), although in poor yields. We report here that these imines can be trapped by benzynes generated by the hexadehydro-Diels-Alder (HDDA) reaction in an efficient manner to produce 1,4-dihydroacridine products. These dihydroacridines were subsequently aromatized using MnO₂ to provide structurally complex acridines.

Metal Free Bi(hetero)aryl Synthesis: A Benzyne Truce-Smiles Rearrangement

A new benzyne transformation is described that affords versatile biaryl structures without recourse to transition‐metal catalysis or stoichiometric amounts of organometallic building blocks. Aryl sulfonamides add to benzyne upon fluoride activation, and then undergo an aryl Truce–Smiles rearrangement to afford biaryls with sulfur dioxide extrusion. The reaction proceeds under simple reaction conditions and has excellent scope for the synthesis of sterically hindered atropisomeric biaryl amines.