Metal‐free Deoxygenative 2‐Amidation of Quinoline N‐oxides with Nitriles via a Radical Activation Pathway.

A metal‐, base‐ and reductant‐free approach for the efficient synthesis of various N‐acylated 2‐aminoquinolines was reported. In this work, readily available nitriles are used as the amide source, and methyl carbazate as both the radical activating reagent and oxygen source. This is the first report on the ester‐radical‐activated highly regioselective addition of nitriles to quinolone N‐oxides. This procedure is expected to complement the current methods for functionalization of N‐oxides via an electrophilic activation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]