Mechanistic Investigation of Oxidative Mannich Reaction with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide. The Role of Transition Metal Salt

A general mechanism is proposed for transition metal-catalyzed oxidative Mannich reactions of N,N-dialkylanilines with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. The mechanism consists of a rate-determining single electron transfer (SET) that is uniform from 4-methoxy- to 4-cyano-N,N-dimethylanilines. The tert-butylperoxy radical is the major oxidant in the rate-determining SET step that is followed by competing backward SET and irreversible heterolytic cleavage of the carbon–hydrogen bond at the α-position to nitrogen. A second SET completes the conversion of N,N-dimethylaniline to an iminium ion that is subsequently trapped by the nucleophilic solvent or the oxidant prior to formation of the Mannich adduct. The general role of Rh2(cap)4, RuCl2(PPh3)3, CuBr, FeCl3, and Co(OAc)2 in N,N-dialkylaniline oxidations by T-HYDRO is to initiate the conversion of TBHP to tert-butylperoxy radicals. A second pathway, involving O2 as the oxidant, exists for copper, iron, and cobalt salts. Results from linear fre...