Iron-Catalyzed Nitrene Transfer Reaction of 4-Hydroxystilbenes with Aryl Azides: Synthesis of Imines via C=C Bond Cleavage
C=C bond breaking to access the C=N bond remains an underdeveloped area. A new protocol for C=C bond cleavage of alkenes under nonoxidative conditions to produce imines via an iron-catalyzed nitrene transfer reaction of 4-hydroxystilbenes with aryl azides is reported. The success of various sequential one-pot reactions reveals that the good compatibility of this method makes it very attractive for synthetic applications. On the basis of experimental observations, a plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed.