Ring opening of heterocycles containing a C–N double bond: a simple synthesis of imides promoted by acyl palladium species

A detailed study on the reactivity of various heterocycles, containing a C-N double bond, with acyl palladium species, generated in situ from allyl or benzyl halides and CO, has been performed. While the cyclic imine 2-methyl-1-pyrroline reacted with acyl-palladium intermediates to give a bicyclic β-lactam, other heterocycles containing a C-N double bond conjugated with a heteroatom (O or N), showed a ring-opening reaction leading to functionalized imides with high structural diversity. Such methodology represents a simple and direct way to prepare structurally complex imides. Moreover, a reaction mechanism, involving cationic intermediates, was also proposed.