Decarboxylative cyclizations and cycloadditions of palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes

Vinyl benzoxazinones undergo decarboxylation in the presence of palladium catalysts to form palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes, which are versatile reaction intermediates. These palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes are generated under exceptionally mild conditions and undergo a plethora of different reactions depending on the reaction conditions. Specifically, they undergo dimerization reactions to produce macrocycles, cyclizations to form dihydroquinolines, cycloadditions with electrophilic p-bonds, and nucleophilic attack by amines. Thus, a wide array of structurally unique aniline derivatives can be accessed from these unique intermediates. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.