Double conjugate addition of dithiols to propargylic carbonyl systems to generate protected 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

The work describes the efficient double conjugate addition of ethane and propane dithiols in the presence of sodium methoxide to a wide variety of propargylic carbonyl containing compounds. The products of these reactions are differentiated, 1,3-dicarbonyl systems useful for various synthesis programs. By judicious use of hydroxylated substrates tandem cyclization occurs to afford tetrahydropyran lactols or, in the case of hydroxy-substituted propargylic esters, lactones. The corresponding amino-substituted propargylic aldehydes gives piperidine derivatives upon double conjugate addition tandem cyclization.