Iron-Catalyzed Cyclization of Nitrones with Geminal-Substituted Vinyl Acetates: A Direct [4 + 2] Assembly Strategy Leading to 2,4-Disubstituted Quinolines

An iron-catalyzed intermolecular [4 + 2] cyclization of arylnitrones with geminal-substituted vinyl acetates was developed for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted quinolines in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibilities. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest a plausible iron-catalyzed C-H activation process under external-oxidant-free conditions.