Synthesis of substituted pyridines from cascade [1 + 5] cycloaddition of isonitriles to N-formylmethyl-substituted enamides, aerobic oxidative aromatization, and acyl transfer reaction.

A novel strategy for de novo synthesis of pyridines featuring an unprecedented α-addition of aldehyde and enamide to isonitrile as a key step is described. Under mild conditions, a cascade reaction involving Zn(OTf)2-promoted [1 + 5] cycloaddition of isonitrile with N-formylmethyl-substituted enamide, facile aerobic oxidative aromatization and intermolecular acyl transfer from the pyridinium nitrogen to the 5-hydroxy oxygen, and finally acylation of the 4-amino group by an external acyl chloride efficiently afforded 2-substituted 4-acylamino-5-acyloxypyridines in good to excellent yields.