Reactions of arylaldehydes and N-sulfonated imines with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate catalyzed by nitrogen and phosphine lewis bases.

Abstract

[reaction: see text] In the reaction of arylaldehydes or N-sulfonated imines (0.5 mmol) with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) (0.6 mmol) catalyzed by pyridine or DMAP (20 mol %), we found that (E)-2-aryl-but-2-enedioic acid dimethyl ester 1 or (E)-2-[aryl-(toluene-4-sulfonylimino)methyl]-but-2-enedioic acid dimethyl ester 2 was formed in good yields at 60 degrees C in THF. A plausible mechanism has been proposed.