Organocatalysis in synthesis: L-proline as an enantioselective catalyst in the synthesis of pyrans and thiopyrans

The multicomponent reaction (MCR) of aromatic aldehydes 1 and malononitrile (2) with active methylenes 5a-h in the presence of L-proline produced pyrans and thiopyrans 6a-h stereospecifically and in good yields. Moreover a novel MCR of ethyl propiolate (8) with 1 and 2 in the presence of L-proline to afford (R)-polysubstituted pyran is also reported. X-ray structures, e.e. and optical activity of the synthesized compounds indicated that L-proline as a catalyst is responsible for the observed enantioselectivity in the studied reactions.