Intramolecular iminium ene reaction with Cu(I) catalysts: facile formation of 4-amino-3-methylenechromans from O-propargyl salicylaldehydes and dialkylamines

Reaction of O-propargyl salicylaldehyde and related compounds with dialkylamines in the presence of copper(I) iodide gave 4-(alkylamino)-3-methylenechroman derivatives in good yields through the loss of one alkyl group of the dialkylamine. The reaction also worked well by employing 2-amino benzaldehyde derivatives to afford 4-(alkylamino)-3-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines. A deuterium-labeling experiment suggested that the α-hydrogen of the dialkylamine was transferred intramolecularly into the terminal methylene. This result indicated the reaction mechanism, which involved the formation of iminium ion between the aldehyde and the dialkylamine followed by ene-type C–C bond formation with inverse electron demand and hydrolysis.