Integrated Approach\nfor Allyl Amine Synthesis Combining\nthe Decarboxylative Coupling of Arylacrylic Acids with the Petasis\nReaction

A metal-free multicomponent reaction\nstrategy for synthesizing\nallyl amines through decarboxylative coupling combined with the Petasis\nreaction is described. Utilizing (<i>E</i>)-3-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylic\nacid, various boronic acids, a formaldehyde solution, and primary\namines, the method operates efficiently without metal catalysts. Investigations\nreveal that electron-donating substituents in cinnamic acid derivatives\nsignificantly enhance reactivity, which is crucial for effective transformations.\nUnder the optimized conditions, yields of ≤78% were obtained\nacross a diverse range of 30 allyl amines.