Reactions of N-substituted pyridinium carbamoylmethylenides with ethyl arylidenecyanoacetates

Condensation of pyridinium N-alkyl-, N-cycloalkyl-, N-benzyl-, and N-phenethylcarb-amoylmethylenides with ethyl arylidenecyanoacetates stereoselectively gives 4,5-trans-1-alkyl-, 4,5-trans-l-cycloalkyl-, 4,5- trans-1-benzyl-, and 4,5-trans-1-phenethyl-4-aryl-3-cyano-6-oxo-5-(3-R-1-pyridinio)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-2-olates. However, pyridinium N-arylcarb-amoylmethylenides react with the same esters without ring closure, yielding Michael adducts, viz., ethyl 3-aryl-4-(N-arylcarbamoyl)-2-cyano-4-(1-pyridinio)butyrates.