CuBr-catalyzed reaction of N,N-dimethylanilines and silyl enol ethers: an alternative route to beta-arylamino ketones.

A wide range of silyl enol ethers undergo the reactions with N,N-dimethylanilines in the presence of transition metal catalysts under mild conditions to give beta-arylamino ketones. In the cases of silyl enol ethers derived from unsymmetrical ketones, regiospecific addition of carbonyl compounds was obtained at the olefinic position of silyl enol ether.