New C-N and C-C bond forming reactions catalyzed by titanium complexes.

Titanium(IV) complexes with two basic dimethylamido ligands can be efficient catalysts for alkyne hydroamination by primary amines. Readily prepared pyrrolyl ligands have proven to be especially useful in generating active catalysts for hydroamination and hydrohydrazination. From these reactions, new methodologies for the synthesis of imines, hydrazones, alpha,beta-unsaturated imines, pyridines, indoles, and pyrroles have developed. In addition, a new reaction that is mechanistically related to hydroamination, alkyne iminoamination, has been discovered. Iminoamination, which is a multicomponent coupling between an amine, alkyne, and isonitrile, provides unsymmetrical alpha, beta-unsaturated beta-iminoamines in a single, titanium-catalyzed step.