Silver-catalyzed intramolecular chloroamination of allenes: easy access to functionalized 3-pyrroline and pyrrole derivatives.

A 1,10-phenanthroline-ligated cationic silver complex allows the intramolecular chloroamination of allenes with N-chlorosuccinimide using 2,6-lutidine as a base. This process proceeds under mild conditions and can tolerate a variety of functional groups. The chloroamination products are useful synthetic intermediates and can be easily transformed into functionalized 3-pyrroline and pyrrole derivatives.