A novel concept—the pseudo-intramolecular process—is applied to the synthesis of multiply functionalized heterocyclic compounds. Acidic α-nitro-δ-keto nitrile easily forms an ammonium salt upon treatment with an amine. When the amine is liberated under equilibrium, an intimate pair, namely, a nucleophilic amine and an electrophilic keto nitrile are located close to each other, is formed; thus the amine efficiently attacks a cyano group of keto nitrile. As a result of subsequent cyclization, 1,4-dihydropyridines containing an amino and a nitro group at the vicinal positions as a partial structure are afforded.
An alpha-nitro-delta-keto nitrile readily forms the corresponding ammonium salt immediately upon treatment with an amine. When the amine liberated under equilibrium, the nucleophilic amine and the electrophilic keto nitrile come close to each other to afford so-called an intimate pair. The spatial proximity realized an efficient reaction to give a 2-amino-3-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridine; the reaction proceeded like an intramolecular reaction although it is actually an intermolecular reaction, namely the pseudo-intramolecular reaction. The bifunctionality of the keto nitrile also enabled the pseudo-intramolecular imination followed by tandem cyclization leading to diazabicyclic frameworks. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.