Hf(OTf)<sub>4</sub>-Doped Me<sub>3</sub>SiCl-Catalyzed Aminomethylation of Arenes with <i>N</i>,<i>O</i>-Acetals: Facile Approach to Non-Natural Aromatic Amino Acid Precursors
The authors demonstrated a Hf(OTf)4-Me3SiCl-system-catalyzed aminomethylation of an aromatic compound, such as a heterocycle or an electron-rich arene, with several new types of N,O-acetals having both a cyano group and a cyclic amino moiety. This method permits the facile synthesis of artificial aromatic amino acid precursors.