title: Mn-catalyzed three-component reactions of imines/nitriles, Grignard reagents, and tetrahydrofuran: an expedient access to 1,5-amino/keto alcohols.
abstract: An expedient Mn-catalyzed three-component synthesis of 1,5-amino/keto alcohols from Grignard reagents, imines/nitriles, and tetrahydrofuran (THF) is described, which deviates from the classic Grignard addition to imines/nitriles in THF solvent. THF is split and "sewn" in an unprecedented manner in the reaction, leading to the formation of two geminal C-C bonds via C-H and C-O cleavage. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations reveal radical and organo-Mn intermediates in the catalytic cycle and the α-arylative ring-opening of THF as the key reaction step.
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Function, and ‡CAS Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Ruoyu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Tang
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qi-Yu
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Congyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang