Palladium-Catalyzed Oxygenative Cross-Coupling of Ynamides and Benzyl Bromides by Carbene Migratory Insertion.

A palladium-catalyzed oxygenative cross-coupling of ynamides and benzyl bromides has been developed. After subsequent hydrogenation, α,α-disubstituted amide derivatives were obtained in good yields. Migratory insertion of α-oxo palladium carbene species, generated by intermolecular oxidation, is proposed as the key step in this reaction. The study demonstrates the potential of ynamides to serve as carbene precursors in palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming cross-coupling reactions.