Cu(OAc)2-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Dehydrogenation Coupling: Synthesis of Heptacyclic Quinolizino[3,4,5,6-kla]perimidines.

A Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed domino tricyclization between naphthalene-1,8-diamine and 2-(phenylethynyl)benzaldehyde is described, enabling aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation coupling to access heptacyclic quinolizino[3,4,5,6-kla]perimidines. In this reaction, the formation of three new rings and four new bonds was achieved in a functional-group-compatible fashion, allowing a facile method toward fused aza-heterocycles containing both quinolizine and perimidine moieties.