Effects of nitrogen and alkene substitution on the PtCl2 catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-tethered 1,6-enyne precursors to the triple reuptake inhibitor GSK1360707

The effects of nitrogen and alkene substitution on the cycloisomerization of N-tethered 1,6-enynes into 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptene precursors to the triple reuptake inhibitor GSK1360707 are described. In general, electron donating substituents proved beneficial both in terms of the reaction rate and chemoselectivity.