β-Amino aldehydes can be useful intermediates in organic synthesis, e.g., in the preparation of natural products and or bioactive compounds. They can, for example, be synthesized via an anti-Markovnikov oxidation of allylic amines. However, the necessary substrates can be challenging to obtain. Allylic alcohols might be a useful alternative.

Jian-Ping Qu, Nanjing Tech University, China, Yan-Biao Kang, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, and colleagues have developed a tandem isomerization/anti-Markovnikov oxidation that transforms linear allylic imidic esters directly to β-amino aldehydes (pictured). The team used Pd(PhCN)₂Cl₂ as a catalyst, tert-butyl nitrite as a redox cocatalyst, O₂ as the only oxidant, and tert-butanol as the solvent. The reactions were performed at room temperature.

 

The desired β-amino aldehydes were obtained in moderate to good yields. The team found that the use of tert-butanol is important for achieving high aldehyde selectivity. The protocol uses mild conditions and avoids a need for hazardous cocatalysts.

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• Direct Synthesis of β-Amino Aldehydes from Linear Allylic Esters Using O₂ as the Sole Oxidant,
  Shu-Hui Lei, Ya Zhong, Xian-Peng Cai, Qing Huang, Jian-Ping Qu, Yan-Biao Kang,
  Org. Lett. 2021.
  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03619