A Sustainable Synthesis of Asymmetric Phenazines and Phenoxazinones Mediated by CotA-Laccase

An efficient and sustainable one-step procedure for the synthesis of new asymmetric phenazines and phenoxazinones from commercially available ortho-substituted diamines and ortho-substituted hydroxyamines is reported. In this study we have expanded the substrate scope of CotA-laccase-catalyzed aerobic oxidations through the use of aromatic amines presenting variable functional groups, including N-substitution, contributing to the rational synthesis of different heterocyclic scaffolds. The transformations proceed smoothly through a cascade of oxidative reactions to the benzoquinonediimine intermediates followed by nucleophilic addition, intramolecular cyclization and aromatization, all performed in mild conditions. (Figure presented.).