Microwave-Assisted Copper(II)-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of 2‑Propargylamino/Oxy-Arylaldehydes and O‑Phenylenediamines: Access to Densely Functionalized Benzo[f]Imidazo[1,2‑d][1,4]Oxazepines and Benzo[f]Imidazo[1,2‑d][1,4]Diazepines

A highly efficient microwave-assisted copper­(II)-catalyzed cyclization cascade was established starting from readily accessible O/N-propargylated 2-hydroxy or 2-aminobenzaldehydes and o-phenylenediamines to synthesize densely functionalized imidazo­[1,2-d]­[1,4]­oxazepines and imidazo­[1,2-d]­[1,4]­diazepines in high yields (up to 93%). This one-pot two-step process was found to be highly atom economical (−H2O, −H2) and operationally simple and enabled the generation of two new heterocycle rings (seven- and five-membered) and three new C–N bonds in a single synthetic operation. These reactions well tolerated a variety of substituents including electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups and furnished the desired fused heterocycles in high yields under microwave irradiation in a very short reaction time. The mechanism of the established protocol involves sequential imine formation–intramolecular cyclization–air oxidation followed by 7-exo-dig cyclization steps. A comparative study between the microwave-assisted approach and conventional heating was also performed to demonstrate the advantages of the microwave-assisted protocol in terms of high yield and shorter reaction time.