An organoselenium-catalyzed N1- and N2-selective aza-Wacker reaction of alkenes with benzotriazoles is reported, which provides easy access to N1- and N2-olefinated benzotriazole derivatives. The wide substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and facile scale-up of this method are expected to promote its potential application in synthetic chemistry. A preliminary mechanism is proposed to explain
1-Vinylbenzotriazoles give indoles on flash vacuum pyrolysis, but depending on the vinyl substituents side reactions leading to N-phenylketenimines or benzonitrile are observed. The latter process occurs with 1,2-disubstituted vinyl groups and an azatrimethylenemethane is suggested as an intermediate. Ketenimine formation is associated with vinyl groups bearing an α-hydrogen and is the only pathway