Reformatsky Reaction of Methyl α-Bromoisobutyrate with 2-Arylmethylidenemalonic Acid Derivatives

Reformatsky reagent obtained by treatment of methyl α-bromoisobutyrate with zinc reacts with dimethyl 2-arylmethylidenemalonates to give trimethyl 2-aryl-3-methylbutane-1,1,3-tricarboxylates. The reaction of the same compound with ethyl 3-aryl-2-(4-methylphenylcarbamoyl)acrylates yields cyclic products, ethyl 4-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-2,6-dioxopiperidine-3-carboxylates. Treatment of the latter with morpholine and phenylhydrazine leads to the corresponding 4-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-2,6-dioxopiperidine-3-carboxylic acid morpholides and phenylhydrazides. The products are formed as a single diastereoisomer.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 1034–1038.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shchepin, Fotin.