Hydro-amination/-amidation of 1,3-diynes with indoles/azoles/amides under modified Ullmann conditions: stereo- and regio-selective synthesis of N-alkenynes via N–H bond activation

An efficient strategy for the stereo- and regio-selective synthesis of N-alkenynes has been described. The salient feature of the reaction involves hydro-amination/amidation of 1,3-diynes with indoles/azoles/amides via transition-metal catalyzed activation of N–H bond. The resulting N-alkenynes derived from N-heterocycles and cyclic amides were obtained as a mixture of Z/E isomers with Z-stereoselectivity ranging from 60% to 95%. In contrast, acyclic amides afforded N-alkenynes with exclusive E-stereoselectivity, albeit in reduced yield ranging from ∼10% to 41%.