The palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2-allyl-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with vinylic triflates or halides affords dihydropyran derivatives, most probably through the intermediacy of η 3 -allylpalladium complexes that undergo an intramolecular nucleophilic attack by the oxygen.The preparation of heterocyclic compounds based on the intramolecular nucleophilic attack on η 3 -allylpalladium complexes derived from olefins containing proximate nucleophiles and vinylic triflates or halides is evolving as an efficient and versatile synthetic methodology (Scheme 1). A variety of oxygen 1 and nitrogen 2,3 heterocycles have been obtained according to this protocol.
Scheme 1As a further extension of this chemistry, we now report our preliminary results on the utilization of readily available 2-allyl-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 1 4 as convenient building blocks for the preparation of the substituted dihydropyrans 3 (Scheme 2).
Scheme 2Prior experience has shown that the nature of the nucleophile in these reactions can be of considerable importance in controlling the ratio of cyclization to vinylic substitution (see Scheme 4). Stronger, anionic nucleophiles appear to favor the cyclization path. 2 Therefore, the reaction of ethyl 2-allyl-3-oxobutanoate with 17β-acetoxyandrosta-3,5-dienyl-3-yl triflate (Scheme 3), our model system, was initially investigated in the presence of a variety of bases. The presence of additives has also been found to play a key role. Some of our results are summarized in Table 1.