Electroreductive coupling of aromatic ketones, aldehydes, and aldimines with α,β-unsaturated esters: Synthesis of 5-aryl substituted γ-butyrolactones and lactams

Abstract

The electroreductive intermolecular coupling of aromatic ketones and aldehydes with α,β-unsaturated esters in the presence of TMSCl gave the adducts as γ-trimethylsiloxy esters. The detrimethylsilylation of the adducts with TBAF afforded 5-aryl substituted γ-butyrolactones. The electroreductive coupling of N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-arylmethaneimines with methyl acrylate in the presence of TMSCl gave the adducts as methyl 4-aryl-4-((4-methoxyphenyl)amino)butanoates. The adducts were transformed to 5-aryl-γ-butyrolactams by cyclization with NaH and subsequent oxidation with CAN. (±)-Norcotinine was prepared from nicotinaldehyde by this method. The electroreductive coupling of aromatic ketones and aldimines with acrylonitrile in the presence of TMSCl gave 4-aryl-4-(trimethylsiloxy)butanenitriles and 4-aryl-4-((4-methoxyphenyl)amino)butanenitriles, respectively.