Functional-group-tolerant catalytic migratory oxidative coupling of nitrones.

A copper-catalyzed migratory oxidative-coupling reaction between nitrones and various ethers/amines exhibited high functional-group tolerance. Even in aqueous media, the reaction proceeded efficiently. For practical use of this catalysis, a unique sequential Huisgen cycloaddition was demonstrated. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the reaction proceeded through oxidative catalytic activation of ethers/amines to afford iminium/oxonium intermediates by concurrent dual one-electron abstractions by copper(II) and oxyl radicals.