| Abstract: | The Michael reaction of ethyl cinnamates with deoxybenzoin gave ethyl 3,4,5-triaryl-5-oxopentanoates which were hydrolysed to the corresponding acids. The latter could be cyclized to the respective 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones which underwent ring opening with several nucleophiles to the corresponding acid derivatives. However, their reaction with ammonium acetate led to the formation of 3,4-dihydro-2-pyridones. The 3,4-dihydro-2-pyrones and pyridones were dehydrogenated to the corresponding 2-pyrones and 2-pyridones by fusion with sulfur. |
