Synthesis,copper(II) complexes and catalytic activity of substituted 6-(1,3-oxazolin-2-yl)pyridine-2-carboxylates

The optically pure 6-(4-alkyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)pyridine-2-carboxylates have been prepared from 6-methoxycarbonylpyridine-2-carboxylic acid by a sequence of three reactions with the overall yield of 40–50%. Some of these compounds form stable complexes with Cu(II) ions in non-aqueous medium. Their polymeric structure was determined in the solid phase by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Cu(II) complexes were also used as catalysts for addition reactions of terminal alkynes to imines giving substituted propargylamines with maximum yield 64% and 37% ee.