Synthesis of heteroarylated ketones via bismuth(III) triflate-promoted regioselective 1,4- and 1,6-additions of electron-rich heteroarenes to cyclic enones and dienones

The development and optimization of bismuth(III) triflate-promoted regioselective 1,4- and 1,6-additions of electron-rich heteroarenes to cyclic, β,β-disubstituted enones and dienones is described. Additions of a range of heteroarenes, including furan, thiophene, pyrrole, and indole nucleophiles, to cyclic, β,β-disubstituted enones occur to form all-carbon quaternary centers in up to 88% yield. In addition, regioselective 1,6-additions of electron-rich heteroarenes to 3-vinyl-2-cyclohexenone occur to produce a variety of δ-heteroarylated, β,β-disubstituted enones in up to 93% yield. The high 1,6-selectivity for these reactions is attributed to the increased steric bulk at the β-position relative to the δ-position, and no competing 1,4-conjugate addition is observed.