Amine-accelerated manganese-catalyzed aromatic C–H conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls

Since 1987, the stoichiometric two-step C–H conjugate addition reactions have been developed. Herein we describe the first manganese-catalyzed one-step direct aromatic C–H conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, which is accelerated by a catalytic amount of dicyclohexylamine. Experimental and computational studies substantiated the validity of the proposed catalytic cycle.