Reductive Cyclization of Bromoenynamides with Alcohols as Hydride Source: Synthesis and Reactions of 2‐Amidodienes

Under basic conditions in alcoholic solvents, bromoenynamides undergo palladium-catalyzed cyclization to cyclic 2-amidodienes in good to excellent yields. This process represents the first use of an alcohol as a hydride source in an alkyne carbopalladation/termination sequence, with the site selectivity of the reduction showing a strong dependence on the tethering ring size (58), and the nature of the alcohol and base. Reaction of the dienes with a range of dienophiles (including alkenes, alkynes and arynes) under various conditions gives bi- and tricyclic azacycles, which can be further oxidized to the aromatic azacycles.