A modular approach to α,β-unsaturated N-aryl ketonitrones

A modular approach to α,β-unsaturated N-aryl ketonitrones has been developed. Specifically, condensation of anilines and enals followed by alkylation of the resulting α,β-unsaturated imines provided N-allyl anilines, which were subjected to oxidation with Oxone® to form α,β-unsaturated N-aryl ketonitrones. This modular approach is general and provides rapid access to diversely substituted α,β-unsaturated N-aryl ketonitrones with a single purification step in good yields.