Enamines as Synthons in the Synthesis of Heterocycles

Chemoselective intramolecular alkylation of the Blaise reaction intermediates: tandem one-pot synthesis of exo-cyclic enaminoesters and their applications toward the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds

The intramolecular alkylative reactivity and N/C selectivity of the various Blaise reaction intermediates, which are formed from the reaction of the Reformatsky reagents with ω-chloroalkyl nitriles, did not reach the synthetic potential as an entry to exo-cyclic enaminoesters. To circumvent this issue, various additives were investigated, among which the addition of NaHMDS dramatically enhanced the reactivity and N/C selectivity. This modification provided a highly efficient route for the synthesis of various N-fused heterocyclic compounds, as it requires only two steps from nitriles.

Synthesis of pyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives via enamine cyclization

The nucleophilic vinylic substitution reaction of the aliphatic enaminone 3-dimethylamino-2-formyl acrylonitrile 1 with the nucleophiles malononitrile and ethyl cyanoacetate produced the two unusual reaction adducts 3a and 3b in good to moderate yield under milder reaction conditions. Upon reaction with aromatic amines, these adducts yielded enamines 4 and 5, which eventually cyclized in the presence of base to produce the novel pyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives 8 and 9.

Copper-catalyzed intramolecular N-vinylation of sulfonamides: general and efficient synthesis of heterocyclic enamines and macrolactams

With the catalysis of CuI/N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine, intramolecular C-N coupling between sulfonamides and vinyl halides was successfully implemented, leading to the efficient synthesis of 5-, 6-, 7-, and even 8-membered heterocyclic enamines in both exo and endo modes. The bicyclic enamines thus formed provided a convenient entry to the corresponding 9- to 12-membered lactams by oxidative C=C bond cleavage.