Balancing Activity and Stability in Halogen-Bonding Catalysis: Iodopyridinium-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydropyridinones

A one-pot cascade reaction for 2,3-dihydropyridinone synthesis was accomplished with 3-fluoro-2-iodo-1-methylpyridinium triflate as the halogen bond catalyst. The desired [4+2] cycloaddition products, bearing aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, and alicyclic substituents, were successfully furnished in 28–99% yields. Mechanistic investigations proved that a strong halogen-bonding interaction forged between the iodopyridinium catalyst and imine intermediate was essential to dynamically masking the vulnerable C–I bond on the catalyst and accelerating the following aza-Diels–Alder reaction.