Lewis Acid-Mediated Regioselective Hydrofunctionalization of Styrenes with Isatins and Heterocycles

The ligand-free Lewis acid-mediated regioselective hydroamination and hydroarylation of styrenes have been successfully developed in the presence of isatins or heterocyclic aryl compounds such as benzothiophenes and benzofurans. The reactions tolerate a variety of functional groups and afford the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. Deuterium labeling experiments show that the functionalized hydrogen of styrenes was derived from the nitrogen-hydrogen of the substrates in the hydroamination. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the reactions may be a radical or a carbocation process.