Palladium‐Catalyzed Preparation of N‐Alkylated Tacrine and Huprine Compounds

An efficient preparation of N‐alkylated tacrine and huprine compounds using palladium‐catalyzed amination was developed. Cross‐coupling reactions with chloroquinolines and primary amines were achieved in good to excellent yields (50–95 %) following microwave irradiation. This method was found particularly useful for functionalized substrates which undergo degradation under SNAr conditions and for the synthesis of tacrine‐ and huprine‐based heterodimeric inhibitors, examples of which are described.