Cross-dehydrogenative coupling strategy for phosphonation and cyanation of secondary N-alkyl anilines by employing 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone

The cross-dehydrogenative coupling strategy for metal-free phosphonation and cyanation of secondary N-alkyl anilines has been developed firstly under mild reaction conditions. Based on detailed optimization of reaction conditions, the substrate generality of N-alkyl anilines and various hydrogen phosphonates has been investigated, and a series of versatile α-aminophosphonates and α-aminonitriles were therefore furnished in good to excellent yields. A plausible collective reaction mechanism through dehydrogenation to imine formation, then to respective α-aminophosphonates and α-aminonitriles was proposed.