Synthesis of α-CN and α-CF3 N-heterocycles through tandem nucleophilic additions.

Using a readily available secondary aminoalkyne as starting material, a powerful strategy was discovered to prepare precursors of biologically important unnatural cyclic aminoacids and fluorinated N-heterocycles with important ring sizes (e.g., 5-7) in a one-pot reaction using two nucleophilic additions in a tandem fashion.