Copper(i)-catalyzed radical carboamination reaction of 8-aminoquinoline-oriented buteneamides with chloroform: synthesis of-β-lactams.

A novel Cu(CH3CN)4PF6-catalyzed carboamination reaction of 8-aminoquinoline-oriented buteneamides with chloroform to afford 4-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)-β-lactams is described. The reaction proceeded at 110 °C in air with di-t-butyl peroxide. Preliminary studies indicated that the reaction undergoes a free radical mechanism via a Cu(i)/Cu(ii)/Cu(iii) catalytic cycle.