Synthesis of Polycyclic Imines by Palladium-Catalyzed Domino Cyclization of Di- and Trienyl Ketone OPentafluorobenzoyloximes

Various cyclic imines, such as spiro imines and a fused bicyclic imine, are synthesized from dienyl and trienyl ketone O-pentafluorobenzoyloximes by the domino amino-Heck reaction. Treatment of the oximes with a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 and triethylamine gives polycyclic imines in high yields via alkylideneaminopalladium(II) intermediates generated in situ by the oxidative addition of the oximes to the Pd(0) complex.