Direct β-C-H ketoalkylation of enaminoesters with cyclopropanols under metal-free conditions

A TEMPO-mediated beta-ketoalkylation of enaminoesters with cyclopropanols under metal-free conditions is herein described. This reaction provides a straightforward and highly efficient route to beta-keto alkyl substituted enaminoesters for the first time, which could be rapidly and efficiently converted into synthetically useful 2-alkoxycarbonyl functionalized 1,5-diketones. Moreover, the practicability of this protocol is successfully demonstrated by scale-up experiments and the late-stage functionalization of natural products and pharmaceutically relevant molecules.