Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Direct Arylation of Enaminones Using Organotrifluoroborates

A Pd(II)-catalyzed reaction for the direct arylation of cyclic enaminones is reported. The reactivity of electron-rich, electron-poor, and sterically encumbered organotrifluoroborates was investigated. This reaction represents a unique use for organotrifluoroborates as coupling partners and discloses the utility of enaminones for direct-functionalization reactions. It provides immediate access to arylpiperidine, indolizidine, and quinolizidine scaffolds from the corresponding mono- and bicyclic, unattenuated enaminones.