We report the synthesis of 4-(furan-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one derivatives. In this approach, two core structures, the furan ring and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one, are constructed via silver(I)-catalyzed cascade cyclization/cyclopropanation/ring-cleavage/nucleophilic substitution reaction of enynones with enamines. A reasonable mechanism has been proposed. This method possesses some advantages such as high chemoselectivity, mild reaction conditions, simple operation, and short reaction time.
Silver(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction of enynones with 4-alkenyl isoxazoles provides access to 2-(furan-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridines. No competitive cyclopropanation of alkenes and O–H insertion via (2-furyl)carbene complexes were observed. The cascade reaction proceeds via the formation of (2-furyl)metal carbene intermediate, the N–O bond cleavage of 4-alkenyl isoxazoles/rearrangement, subsequent 6π electrocyclic reaction, and [1,5] H-shift. The successive construction of both 1,2-dihydropyridine skeleton and furan frame has been achieved in the one-pot reaction. A broad range of readily available enynones and 4-alkenyl isoxazoles are suitable to this protocol; however, when R3 is the alkyl group such as n-Bu and Me, a complicated mixture was generated without the desired products. In addition, in the case of R4 = bulky group such as R3′SiOCH2, the reaction gave an in situ oxo-product of (2-furyl)silver carbene. An atom-economic strategy for the synthesis of 2-(furan-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridines has been established.
Ag(I)-catalyzed cascade reactions involving enynone cyclization and cross-coupling with phosphorus ylides have been achieved for the first time. Subsequent treatment of the reaction mixture with I2 afforded the corresponding (E)-α-alkenylfurans in 73–95% yields with excellent stereoselectively. A reasonable mechanism has been proposed.