Direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids and some theoretical studies of the reactions

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in high yields. Treatment of the sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids (α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides), which were treated with N-lithio arylamines to afford ortho-alkenylated arylamines in moderate yields. The reaction, in some cases, proceeded in a highly stereospecific manner at the carbon bearing the chlorine and the sulfinyl group. The structures of the α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides and the reactivity of the N-lithio meta-substituted anilines were studied at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with the 6-31(+)G* basis set. This reaction offers a quite novel and direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position of the aromatic ring.