Cu-catalyzed skeletal rearrangement of O-propargylic electron-rich arylaldoximes into amidodienes.

O-Propargylic oximes that possess an electron-rich p-(dimethylamino)phenyl group at the oxime moiety and an alkyl group at the propargylic position were efficiently converted in the presence of Cu(I) catalysts to the corresponding 1-amidodienes in good to excellent yields. The reaction proceeded via a 2,3-rearrangement, followed by isomerization of the resulting N-allenylnitrone to the amide, presumably through the oxaziridine intermediate.