A New General Synthesis of 2,2-Dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-ones and Their Application for the in situ Preparation of Electron-Rich Dienes in Carbonyl-Alkyne Exchange Reactions with Acetylenes

The substituted 2,2-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-ones of type II and III have been prepared by acid-catalyzed cyclization of the corresponding substituted acetylenic ketones I in good to excellent yields (Scheme 1). These 2,2-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-ones II and III have been used for the in situ preparation of highly reactive dienes of type IV – VI (Scheme 2) in carbonyl-alkyne exchange reactions with electron-poor alkynes VII to yield the highly substituted aromatic compounds VIII and IX. These reactions proceed in good yields and with excellent degree of regioselectivity. Aryl-substituted 2,2-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-ones III (R¹ = Ar) subsequently yield highly substituted biaryls. Reaction mechanisms are presented for the formation of the 2,2-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-ones as well as for the carbonyl-alkyne exchange reactions with electron-poor acetylenes.