Iridium-catalyzed Annulation of α,β-Unsaturated Amides with Electron-deficient Conjugated Dienes

Annulation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides with electrondeficient 1,3-dienes gave 5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-ones in the presence of a hydroxoiridium catalyst. The reaction proceeded via direct C-H alkylation of acrylamides with conjugated dienes, followed by intramolecular aza-Michael addition, thus giving dihydropyridinones stereoselectively in good yields.