Reaction of dialkyl 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylates with aliphatic amines

Benzylamine, phenethylamine, and homoveratrylamine reacted with dialkyl 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylates at the endocyclic carbonyl group with conservation of the enolic hydroxy group to give dialkyl 4-alkylamino-2-aryl-6-hydroxy-6-methylcyclohex-3-ene-1,3-dicarboxylates. The reaction of dimethyl 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-oxo-2-phenylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate with tryptamine was accompanied by dehydration with formation of dimethyl 4-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylamino]-6-methyl-2-phenylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,3-dicarboxylate, presumably due to basic properties of the indole nitrogen atom.