Photoinduced nucleophilic addition of ammonia and alkylamines to methoxy-substituted styrene derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)85505-8

The photoamination of trans-1-arylpropenes (aryl = 2-methoxyphenyl), (1), 3-methoxyphenyl (2) 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl (3), and 4-methoxyphenyl (4) with NH₃, i-PrNH₂, and t-BuNH₂ (RNH₂), in the presence of p-dicyanobenzene (p-DCB) gave 2-alkylamino-1 arylpropanes (9) and/or 2-alkylamino-1-aryl-1-(4-cyanophenyl)propanes (10). The photoaminations of 1,2-dihydro-7-methoxynaphthalenes (6-8) with RNH₂ in the presence of p-DCB gave mainly 2-alkylamino-1-(4-cyanophenyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene s (13). The photoamination of trans-1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propene (5) with i-PrNH₂ occurred at aromatic ring to give trans-1-(2-isopropylamino-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propene (11). The photoaminations of 1-4 and 6-8 with NH₃ in the presence of m-dicyanobenzene gave the aminated products without incorporation of cyanophenyl group. Furthermore, the addition of 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene and m-terphenyl for these reactions improved the yields of the photoaminated products.