Palladium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative-coupling of nitro-substituted internal alkenes with terminal alkenes

The palladium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) reaction of internal alkenes (α-nitro ketene dithioacetals) and terminal alkenes (acrylates) was achieved in AcOH/DMSO using air or AgOAc as the sole oxidant. Styrenes were also applied in the CDC reaction of these internal alkenes with AgOAc as the oxidant. Polyfunctionalized 1,3- and 1,4-dienes were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions, without prefunctionalization of the substrates. The diene products were readily transformed into the corresponding amines and derivatives.