Molecular Diversity of Three-Component Reactions of Aromatic Aldehydes, Arylamines, and Acetylenedicarboxylates

The three-component reactions of aromatic aldehydes, arylamines, and acetylenedicarboxylates show very interesting molecular diversity. In an aqueous ethanol solution the three-component reaction gave polysubstituted 2-hydroxyhydropyridines. In absolute ethanol 1,4-dihydropyridines were produced in satisfactory yields. Finally, under acid catalysis, this three-component reaction afforded polysubstituted 2-pyrrolidinones. The reaction mechanism for the formation of the three products is briefly explained.