Preparation of heterocyclic amines by an oxidative amination of zinc organometallics mediated by Cu(I): a new oxidative cycloamination for the preparation of annulated indole derivatives.

Functionalized heterocyclic zinc reagents are easily aminated by an oxidative amination reaction of zinc amidocuprates prepared from various lithium amides. For the oxidation step, PhI(OAc)(2) proved to be the best reagent. The required heterocyclic zinc organometallics can be prepared either by direct metalation, by magnesium insertion in the presence of ZnCl(2), or by transmetalation of a suitable magnesium reagent.

i-PrI acceleration of Negishi cross-coupling reactions.

The Negishi cross-coupling of arylzinc reagents with various bromoanilines is accelerated by the presence of i-PrI (1 equiv) and furnished the expected biaryls within 5-12 min reaction time at 25 degrees C. Arylzinc reagents can also be cross-coupled under these conditions with a range of aryl bromides bearing an enolizable ester or acidic benzylic protons.