Palladium catalysed, three-component cascade reaction for the efficient synthesis of diverse small molecules

A palladium catalysed, three-component cascade reaction was employed for the regiospecific and stereoselective synthesis of novel substituted (Z)-2-butene 1,4-diamine analogues and substituted 4-aryloxy but-2-enyl amine analogues. Allenes were first synthesised from the corresponding alkynes using the Crabbé reaction and then reacted with a large range of commercially available aryl iodides and amines to generate a library of small molecules. The reaction is compatible with aryl iodides containing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. Amines of different sizes can also be utilised with no noticeable effect on the yield, regiospecificity or stereoselectivity.