SYNTHESIS OF NITROGEN HETEROCYCLES THROUGH CYANATIVE CYCLIZATION AND CYCLOADDITION REACTIONS UNDER TRANSITION METAL CATALYSIS

Synthesis of cyano-functionalized nitrogen heterocycles under palladium, nickel, and cobalt catalysis is described. These transformations include the activation of C-C multiple bonds to give the functionalized pyrrolidines and their related compounds. The palladium-catalyzed reactions promote nucleophilic cyanation to non-activated terminal alkynes. Nickel catalysis enables to install H and CN functionalities into allenes with regio- and stereoselective manner. In the case of cobalt-catalyzed hydrocyanation, hydroacylation and hydroarylation, simple olefins as well as enamines are suitable substrates to construct highly functionalized hetero- and carbocycles. The applications of the above methodologies for the synthesis of alkaloids and related compounds are also described.