Synthesis of Substituted 2-Aminoimidazoles via Pd-Catalyzed Alkyne Carboamination Reactions. Application to the Synthesis of Preclathridine Natural Products

[Image: see text] A new method for the synthesis of 2-aminoimidazole products is described. The heterocyclic products are generated in good yields via Pd-catalyzed carboamination reactions of N-propargyl guanidines and aryl triflates. This methodology generates both a C–N and C–C bond during the annulation step and facilitates the rapid construction of 2-aminoimidazole products with different aryl groups. The utility of this methodology was demonstrated in the total synthesis of preclathridine A, preclathridine B, and dorimidazole B from a single intermediate.