Hexafluoroantimonic acid catalysis: formal [3+2+2] cycloaddition of aziridines with two alkynes.

A practical method for the synthesis of azepine derivatives, a typical seven-membered heterocyclic ring system, was developed and involves the use of hexafluoroantimonic acid to catalyze a formal [3+2+2] cycloaddition of aziridines with two alkynes. This method was applicable to two of the same or different terminal alkynes for the [3+2+2] cycloaddition with unactivated aziridines, and furnished the corresponding azepine derivatives in good yields with good levels of chemo- and regioselectivity. The mechanism was also discussed according to the results of the in situ HRMS and (1)H NMR analysis.