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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
N-Heterocyclic-Carbene-Catalyzed Umpolung of Imines
Atanu Patra1,2, Subrata Mukherjee1,2, Tamal Kanti Das1,2
1Organic Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune-, 411008, India.
Abstract:
N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has been widely used for the umpolung of aldehydes, and recently for the umpolung of Michael acceptors. Described herein is the umpolung of aldimines catalyzed by NHCs, and the reaction likely proceeds via aza-Breslow intermediates. The NHC-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of aldimines bearing a Michael acceptor resulted in the formation of biologically important 2-(hetero)aryl indole 3-acetic-acid derivatives in moderate to good yields. The carbene generated from the bicyclic triazolium salt was found to be efficient for this transformation.
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