Radical C−H Acylation of Nitrogen Heterocycles Induced by an Aerobic Oxidation of Aldehydes

An aerobic radical approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical heteroaryl ketones is described herein. The reaction involves cross-dehydrogenative coupling between aldehydes and heteroaromatic bases with molecular oxygen (O2 ). The key aspect of the method is the generation of reactive acyl radical via homolytic activation of aldehyde C-H bond using O2 as the sole oxidant. The reaction has a good substrate scope with respect to aldehydes and functionalized nitrogen heterocycles. Based on our mechanistic studies, a radical chain pathway is suggested for the reaction. A synthetic application of the method is demonstrated in the formal synthesis of natural alkaloid (±) angustureine.