Synthesis of Functionalized 2-Aminohydropyridines and 2-Pyridinones via Domino Reactions of Arylamines, Methyl Propiolate, Aromatic Aldehydes, and Substituted Acetonitriles

An efficient and practical synthetic method for the functionalized 2-amino hydropyridines and 2-pyridinones was successfully developed via the domino reactions of arylamines, methyl propiolate, aromatic aldehydes and the substituted acetonitriles with triethylamine as base catalyst. Reactions involving malononitrile and cyanoacetamide gave exclusively the 2-aminohydropyridines. On the other hand ethyl cyanoacetate resulted in the 2-pyridinones as main products.