Generation and Aerobic Oxidation of Azavinyl Captodative Radicals

We describe a cascade reaction that selectively incorporates oxygen into the carbon-carbon backbone of alkynes using air as the source. The process starts by lithiating readily available, electron-deficient 1,2,3-triazoles, resulting in an amphoteric lithium ketenimine intermediate. This intermediate can react with both electrophiles and nucleophiles. Under the conditions outlined in this study, we generate azavinyl radicals, which are a rare subset of captodative radicals. When exposed to atmospheric oxygen, these radicals efficiently transform into α-oxygenated amidines─a class of compounds that has not been extensively studied. This process uniquely utilizes molecular oxygen without requiring metal or photocatalysts, and it occurs under mild conditions. Our mechanistic studies provide insights into the intricate sequence involved in the formation and selective capture of azavinyl captodative radicals.