Novel synthetic route to 1,4-dihydropyridines from β-amino acrylates by using titanium(IV) chloride under facile conditions

The reactions of Boc-β-amido- and β-amino acrylates, in which the CC possesses both nucleophilic and electrophilic sites, were investigated under acidic conditions. The trifluoroacetic-acid induced cyclization of the β-amido acrylates to the corresponding oxazolidin-2-ones involves a rarely seen nucleophilic attack of the carbamate carbonyl group. The cyclotrimerization of β-amino acrylates to N-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines was observed in the presence of a Lewis acid. High yields of 1,4-dihydropyridines (70–83%) were readily obtained by using substoichiometric amount TiCl₄ under mild condition. The cyclotrimerization is presumably occurring via a Hantzsch related mechanism involving three addition/elimination reactions of the amphiphilically reactive CC.     

Selective fluorescent sensor for mercury ions in aqueous media using a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives containing 3 carboxylic acid units are synthesized via cyclotrimerization of N-substituted β-aminoacrylates followed by basic hydrolysis of the triester. These DHP derivatives are readily soluble in aqueous media buffered at pH 8.0 and the solutions give blue fluorescent signals with quantum yields of 7–23%. One of these compounds, bearing a p-methoxyphenyl N-substituted group, shows specific fluorescent quenching with the mercuric ion (Hg²⁺). The fluorescent signal of the DHP derivative decays over a period of minutes to hours depending on the Hg²⁺ concentration, which implies that the sensing mechanism involves chemical reaction between the Hg²⁺ ion and the DHP compound. The ¹H NMR and MS data suggest that Hg²⁺ mediates the oxidation of the DHP ring into a pyridinium ring. The event is useful for fluorescent detection of Hg²⁺ at the micromolar level within 30 min, with a detection limit of 0.2 μM in aqueous medium.