title: Indirect ortho functionalization of substituted toluenes through ortho olefination of N,N-dimethylbenzylamines tuned by the acidity of reaction conditions.
abstract: Highly regioselective olefination of substituted N,N-dimethylbenzylamines was developed by tuning the acidity of reaction conditions based on analysis of their features. The ortho-functionalized N,N-dimethylbenzylamines were further transformed into 3-(2'-tolyl)propanoic acid and its derivatives under mild conditions. These two transformations could be combined into one pot, and 3-(2'-tolyl)propanoic acid and its derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic studies indicated that electrophilic attack on the phenyl ring by the Pd(II) ion assisted by the N,N-dimethylaminomethyl group was a key step during this catalytic transformation, which was controlled by the acidity of the reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: PKU Green Chemistry Center and Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guixin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yizhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Zhangjie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi