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An original, facile and highly efficient method for the in situ generation of cyclic enolate-iminium 1,4-dipoles via unique thermal decomposition of easily available dipyrazolodioxadiazocines has been developed. Various substituted pyrazolo[5,1-d][1,3,5]dioxazines have been prepared in high yields via unusual cycloconversion of dipyrazolodioxadiazocines in the presence of ketones. Furthermore, the developed method is 100% atom economical and proceeds under metal-, catalyst- and solvent-free conditions.

Dimethyl 1-aryl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates reacted with 3-arylamino-1H-inden-1-ones to give the corresponding methyl 1-aryl-3-[2-(arylamino)-2-oxoacetyl]-2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridine-4-carboxylates.

Ethyl 4,5-dioxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates reacted with malononitrile and five-membered cyclic enols, indan-1,3-dione and cyclopentane-1,3-dione to give 1-substituted ethyl 2-amino-3- cyano-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′-dihydro-5H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b]pyran-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylates and ethyl 2-amino-3-cyano-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-spiro[cyclopenta[b]pyran-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylates, respectively.

A highly efficient method for the preparation of multifunctional substituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines and isoxazolo[5,4-b]pyridines was developed through the formal [3+3] cascade cyclocondensation of 4-acyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones as 1,3-bis-electrophiles with the five-membered cyclic enamines as 1,3-bis-nucleophiles.

A new methodology for the synthesis of spiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-10,3′-pyrrole] derivatives via a Hantzsch-type reaction has been developed. This process involves the one-pot, three-component reaction of a 1H-pyrrole-2,3-dione, an aminocyclohexenone and 1,3-indanedione in acetic acid at reflux. Operationally simple, metal-free reaction conditions, simplicity of product isolation and good yields are key advantages of this methodology.

Substituted alkyl 4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates reacted with urea to give alkyl 2-(carbamoylamino)-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates which underwent intramolecular cyclization to 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-triazaspiro[4.4]non-8-ene-2,4,7-triones by the action of sodium methoxide.

5-Alkoxycarbonyl-substituted 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with phenylurea, forming alkyl 4-hydroxy-5-oxo-2-[(phenylcarbamoyl)amino]-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates, which cyclize in the presence of sodium methoxide, giving 8-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1,3,6-triazaspiro[4.4]-non-8-ene-2,4,7-triones. The crystal structures of 8-hydroxy-9-(4-methylbenzoyl)-3-phenyl-6-(p-tolyl)-1,3,6-triazaspiro[4.4]non-8-ene-2,4,7-trione and methyl 8-hydroxy-2,4,7-trioxo-3,6-diphenyl-1,3,6-triazaspiro[4.4]non-8-ene-9-carboxylate were studied.

Highly efficient spiro-condensation enabling cyclic enoles to act as 1,3-bis-nucleophiles in reaction with pyrrole-2,3-diones acting as 1,2-bis-electrophiles was developed. The corresponding furo[3,2-c]coumarins and furo[3,2-c]quinolines containing a spiro pyrrole fragment were obtained in high yields.

5-Phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones reacted with malononitrile and 1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-ones to give substituted 6-amino-5-cyano-2′-oxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′-dihydro-1H-spiro[pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-4,3′-pyrroles]. The crystal and molecular structures of ethyl 6-amino-1,1′-dibenzyl-5-cyano-3-methyl-2′-oxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′-dihydro-1H-spiro[pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylate were determined by X-ray analysis.

An efficient [5+1] double Michael cycloaddition of enolates to 4-cinnamoylpyrrole-2,3-diones was investigated; the reaction allows for the highly diastereoselective assembly of indoline scaffolds with up to three contiguous stereogenic centers.

Ethyl 4,5-dioxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates reacted with malononitrile (methyl cyanoacetate) and 4-hydroxycoumarin to produce substituted ethyl 2-amino-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′-dihydro-5H-spiro[pyrano[3,2-c]chromene-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylates. The crystal and molecular structure of ethyl 2-amino-3-cyano-1′-cyclohexyl-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′-dihydro-5H-spiro[pyrano[3,2-c]chromene-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylate was determined by X-ray analysis.

1-Aryl-4,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with 4-aminopent-3-en-2-one and 3-amino-1-phenylbut-2-en-1-one affording dimethyl 4-acyl-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-7-oxo-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ene-5,8-dicarboxylates whose structure was proved by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Methyl 1-aryl-3-cinnamoyl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carbocylates react with N-substituted ethyl 3-amino-3-phenylprop-2-enoates, ethyl 3-aminobut-2-enoates, 3-amino-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-ones, and dimethyl 2-arylaminofumarates to give 9-ethoxycarbonyl-, 9-benzoyl-, and 8,9-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-4-cinnamoyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-dienes.

Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1Н-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with 3-amino-4,6-dimethyl-2Н-pyrazolo(3,4-b)- pyridine affording N-aryl-2,3-diaroyl-8,10-dimethylpyrido (2',3':3,4)pyrazolo(1,5-a)pyrimidine-4-carboxamides. DOI: 10.1134/S1070428013080186 In reactions of 4,5-diaroyl-1Н-pyrrole-2,3-diones with nucleophiles several reaction pathways can be realized depending on the structure of the nucleophiles. Recycli- zations were described of 4,5-diaroyl-1Н-pyrrole-2,3- diones under the action of arylamines (2) and substituted hydrazines (3) involving the carbon atoms in the position 5 and the carbonyl group of the aroyl substituent in the position 4 of 1Н-pyrrole-2,3-diones, and also spiro- bisheterocyclization under the action of acyclic (1) and heterocyclic (4) enamines involving the carbon atoms in the position 5 and the carbonyl group of the aroyl substitu- ent in the position 5 of 1Н-pyrrole-2,3-dionesов. No pub- lished data exist on the reactions of these pyrrolediones with NH,NH-1,3-binucleophiles. At boiling a solution in anhydrous toluene of 1-aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones Iа-Ih (5) and 3-amino-4,6-dimethyl-2Н-pyrazolo(3,4-b)pyridine (II) (6) in a ratio 1:1 during 2-3 h (TLC monitoring) we obtained in good yields N-aryl-2,3-diaroyl-8,10- dimethylpyrido(2',3':3,4)-pyrazolo(1,5-a)pyrimidine-4- carboxamides IIIа-IIIh,** whose structure was proved

4,5-Diaroyl-1-aryl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones reacted with ethyl 3-amino-3-phenylprop-2-enoate to give ethyl 4-aroyl-1,6-diaryl-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-8-phenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,6,8-triene-9-carboxylates. The crystalline and molecular structures of ethyl 4-benzoyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-oxo-6,8-diphenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,6,8-triene-9-carboxylate were determined by X-ray analysis.

Highly efficient spiro-condensation enabling cyclic enoles to act as 1,3-bis-nucleophiles in reaction with pyrrole-2,3-diones acting as 1,2-bis-electrophiles was developed. The corresponding furo[3,2-c]coumarins and furo[3,2-c]quinolines containing a spiro pyrrole fragment were obtained in high yields.

1-Aryl-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with ethyl 3-(benzylamino)but-2-enoate and ethyl 3-(benzylamino)-3-phenylacrylate giving 4-methyl 9-ethyl 1-aryl-7-benzyl-3-hydroxy-8-methyl- and 4-methyl 9-ethyl 1-aryl-7-benzyl-3-hydroxy-8-phenyl-2,6-dioxo-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-4,9-dicarboxylates.

Methyl 1-aryl-3-cinnamoyl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates reacted with 4-benzylamino- and 4-arylaminopent-3-en-2-ones to give 1-aryl-7-benzyl- and 1,7-diaryl-9-acetyl-4-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-8-methyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-2,6-diones. The crystalline and molecular structures of 9-acetyl-4-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-7-phenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-2,6-dione were studied by X-ray analysis.

1-Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with alkyl vinyl ethers and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran affording 1,4-diaryl-7a-aroyl-6-ethoxy-7,7a-dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyrrole-2,3(1H,6H)-diones and 1,4-diaryl-9baroyl-1,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-5aH-pyrano[3′,2′:5,6]pyrano[4,3-b]-pyrrole-2,3-diones respectively.

1-Aryl-4-aroyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with 3-arylamino-1H-inden-1-ones affording 1,1′-diaryl-3′-aroyl-4′-hydroxy-1H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole-3,2′-pyrrole]-2,4,5′(1′H)-triones. The crystal and molecular structure of 4′-hydroxy-3′-(2,4-dimethylbenzoyl)-1,1′-diphenyl-1H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b] pyrrole-3,2′-pyrrole]-2,4,5′(1′H)-trione.

1-Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with styrene to form substituted 7,7a-dihydropyrano[4,3-b] pyrrole-2,3(1H,6H)-diones whose structure was confirmed by XRD analysis. The crystal and molecular structure of 7a-(2,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-4-(2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-7,7a-dihydropyrano[4,3-b] pyrrole-2,3(1H,6H)dione was examined.

The reaction of (Z)-2-amino-1,4-diarylbut-2-en-1,4-diones with oxalyl chloride led to the formation of 1-aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones that at the thermal decarbonylation gave aroyl(N-arylimidoyl)ketenes which underwent stabilization by molecular cyclization into 2,3-diaroylquinolin-4(1H)-ones.

Dimethyl 1-aryl(benzyl)-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates reacted with phenylhydrazine and benzylhydrazine to give dimethyl 1-aryl(benzyl)-5-[(aryl or benzyl)carbamoyl]-1H-pyrazole-3,4-dicarboxylates.

4-Ethoxycarbonyl-5-phenyl-substituted 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with 3-arylamino-1H-inden-1-ones in the ratios 1: 1 and 1: 2 to form substituted spiro{indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-10,3′-pyrroles} and substituted spiro{diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-pyrroles}, respectively.

1-Aryl-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with N-substituted 3-amino-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones affording methyl 1,1′-diaryl-4′-hydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-2,4,5′-trioxo-1,1′,2,4,5,5′,6,7-octahydrospiro[indole-3,2′-pyrrole]-3′-carboxylates whose structure was proved by XRD analysis.

5-Phenyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with acetonitriles and dimedone to form ethyl 2-amino-7,7-dimethyl-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-1′,2′,5,6,7,8-hexahydrospiro[chromene-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylates. The crystal and molecular structure of ethyl 2-amino-1′-benzyl-7,7-dimethyl-2′,5-dioxo-5′-phenyl-3-cyano-1′,2′,5,6,7,8-hexahydrospiro[chromene-4,3′-pyrrole]-4′-carboxylate was proved by XRD analysis.

1-Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones reacted with benzyl- and phenylhydrazines to give N-aryl-2-(5-aryl-3-aroyl-1-benzyl(phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-oxoacetamides whose structure was proved by X-ray analysis.

Bromine-containing organozinc compounds generated from 1,1-dibromo-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one reacted with 2-arylmethylideneindan-1,3-diones and 5-arylmethylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones to give 3-aryl-2-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)spiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-indan]-1′,3′-diones and 1-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-2-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)-5,7-dioxaspiro[2.5]octan-4,8-diones, respectively. Reactions of 2-arylmethylideneindan-1,3-diones with bromine-containing zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromopropan-1-ones and 2,2-dibromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-one resulted in the formation of 2-aroyl-3-aryl-2-methylspiro-[cyclopropane-1,2′-indan]-1′,3′-diones and 2,3: 8,9-dibenzo-12-phenyldispiro[4.0.5.1]dodecane-1,4,7-trione, respectively.

Reactions of isopropyl 2-(1-aryl-4,5-dioxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetates with aromatic amines involve a pyrroledione-pyrroledione recyclization to form isopropyl 1-aryl-2-hydroxy-4,5-dioxo-3-[phenyl(arylamino)methylene]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylates. The crystal and molecular structure of (Z)-isopropyl 2-hydroxy-4,5-dioxo-1-phenyl-3-[phenyl(phenylamino)methylene]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate was proved by XRD analysis.

Isopropyl 2-(1-aryl-4,5-dioxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetates reacted with N-substituted 3-amino-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones to give the corresponding 1′-substituted (Z)-6′,6′-dimethyl-3-[phenyl(arylamino)methylidene]-6′,7′-dihydro-3H-spiro[furan-2,3′-indole]-2′,4,4′,5(1′H,5′H)-tetraones. The structure of 1′-benzyl-6′,6′-dimethyl-3-[(Z)-phenyl(phenylamino)methylidene]-6′,7′-dihydro-3Hspiro[furan-2,3′-indole]-2′,4,4′,5(1′H,5′H)-tetraone was proved by X-ray analysis.

Organozinc compounds formed from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanes, α,α-dibromopinacoline, and dialkyl dibromomalonates and zinc react with (3-phenylprop-2-enylidene)malonodinitriles and primary amides of 2-cyano-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid to form 2-alkyl-2-aroyl-3-(phenylvinyl)cyclopropan-1,1-dicarboxylic acid dinitriles, N-substituted amides of 3-(phenylvinyl)-2-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)-1-cyanocyclopropan-1-carboxylic acids, and alkyl 3-R-6-(phenylvinyl)-2,4-dioxo-5-cyano-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]-hexan-1-carboxylates as a single stereoisomer.

Organozinc compounds prepared from dialkyl dibromomalonates and zinc react with 2-arylmethyl-eneindan-4,6-diones, 5-arylmethylene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones, as well as with 2-[4-(1,3-dioxoindan-2-ylidenemethyl)phenyl]methyleneindan-1,3-dione and 5-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxane-2-ylidenemethyl)phenyl]methylene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones to form dialkyl 3-aryl-1′3′-dioxaspiro(cyclopropane-2,2′-indan)-1,1-dicarboxylates, dimethyl 3-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-5,7-dioxa-4,8-dioxaspiro[2,5]octan-2,2-dicarboxylates, dialkyl 2-{4-[3,3-bis (alkoxycarbonyl)-1′,3′-dioxaspiro(cyclopropane-2,2′-indan)-1-yl]phenyl}-1′,3′-dioxaspiro[cyclopropane-2,2′-indan]-1,1-dicarboxylates, and dialkyl 2-{4-[2,2-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-4,8-dioxo-5,7-dioxaspiro[2,5]oct-1-yl]phenyl}-6,6-dimethyl-4,8-dioxo-5,7-dioxaspiro[2,5]octan-1,1-dicarboxylate respectively.

Zinc enolates generated from dimethyl 4-bromo-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxohexane-1,6-dioate and zinc reacted with aromatic aldehydes giving methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-3-(5-oxo-2-aryltetrahydrofuran-3-yl)propanoates. The reaction of zinc enolates obtained from dimethyl 4-bromo-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxoheptane-1,7-dioate and zinc with aromatic aldehydes depending on the synthesis conditions led to the formation either methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-3-(6-oxo-2-aryltetrahydropyran-3-yl)propanoates or 3-(5,5-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-2-aryltetrahydropyran-3-yl)propanoates. The compounds synthesized formed as a single diastereomer of E-configuration.

Zinc enolates obtained from 2,2-dibromonidan-1-one or 2,2-dibromo-1-tetralone and zinc reacted with alkyl esters and amides of 2-oxochromen-3-carboxylic acid giving the corresponding derivatives of 2,1′-dioxo-spiro(1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1,2′-indan)-or 1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydro-2,1′-dioxospiro(1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1,2′-naphthalene)-1a-carboxylic acids prevailingly in the form of a single geometric isomer.

Zinc enolates derived from 2,2-dibromoindan-1-one and 2,2-dibromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-one reacted with 2-arylmethylidenemalononitriles, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates, and N-substituted 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enamides to give, respectively, 3-aryl-1′-oxo-1′,3′-dihydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-indene]-2-2-dicarbonitriles, 3-aryl-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2,2-dicarbonitriles, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyano-1′-oxo-1′,3′-dihydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-indene]-2-carboxylates, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyano-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2-carboxylates, and N-substituted 3-aryl-2-cyanol-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2-carboxamides as a single diastereoisomer. The stereoconfiguration of the products was determined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy.

Organozinc compounds prepared from bromomalonic acid esters and zinc react with 3-aryl-2-cyanopropenoic acid primary amides giving a single diastereomer of the corresponding 1-R′-4-aryl-2,6-dioxo-5-cyanopiperidine-3-carboxylic acid esters, or 3-R′-6-aryl-2,4-dioxo-5-cyano-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexene-1-carboxylic acid esters.

Organozinc compounds obtained from 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-methylpropanone and zinc react with N-benzyl-3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylamides or N-[6-(2-cyano-1-oxo-3-phenylprop-2-enylamino)hexyl]-2-cyano-3-phenylacrylamide to give 4,6-diaryl-1-benzyl-6-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxopiperidine-3-carbonitriles or 1,6-bis(6-aryl-3-cyano-6-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-4-phenylpiperidyl)hexanes as a single isomer with trans-located piperidine hydrogen atoms.

3-Aroyl-6-bromochromen-2-ones and 2-benzoylbenzo[f]chromen-3-one reacted with zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2-bromoalkanones and 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-phenylethanone to give, respectively, 4-(1-alkyl-2-aryl-2-oxoethyl)-3-aroyl-6-bromochroman-2-ones and 1-(2-aroyl-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl)-2-benzoyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[f]chromen-3-ones as a single stereoisomer. Treatment with acetic anhydride of the intermediate product obtained from 3-benzoyl-6-bromochromen-2-one and [1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-phenylethen-1-yloxy]-zinc(II) bromide resulted in the formation of 3-(1-acetoxy-1-phenylmethylidene)-6-bromo-4-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-phenylethyl]chroman-2-one.

Alkyl 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates react with zinc enolates prepared from 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-phenylethanones, 2-bromo indanone, 2-bromo-6-methyltetralone and zinc with formation of ethyl 4-(2-aryl-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates, alkyl 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-4-(1-oxoindan-2-yl)tetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates, and ethyl 5,5-dimethyl-4-(6-methyl-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylates respectively, mainly as single diastereomers.

Zinc enolates obtained from ethyl 2,2-dialkyl-4,4-dibromo-3-oxobutanoates and zinc react with N-substituted 2-oxochromen-3-carboxamides forming ethyl 3-{1a-(R3-carbamoyl)-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1-yl}-2,2-dialkyl-3-oxopropanoate isomer with a Z-position of methine hydrogens. Zinc enolates prepared from alkyl 2,2-dialkyl-4,4-dibromo-3-oxopentanoates and-hexanoates and zinc react with N-substituted 2-oxochromen-3-carboxamides to give rise to esters of 3-{1-alkyl-1a-(R3-carbamoyl)-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa-[c]chromen-1-yl}-2,2-dialkyl-3-oxopropanoic acid as isomers with the E-position of the methine proton and the alkyl substituent. The reaction carried out in the presence of small quantities of THF and HMPA leads to the formation of 9c-alkyl-2-R3-9b,9c-dihydro-5-oxa-2-azacyclopenta[2,3]-cyclopropa[1,2-a]naphthalene-1,3,4-triones. Zinc enolates from alkyl 2,2-dialkyl-4,4-dibromo-3-oxopentanoates and-hexanoates and zinc with the secondary amides of 2-oxochromen-3-carboxylic acid form alkyl 3-{2-oxo-1a-(piperidinocarbonyl)-and 3-{6-R1-1a-(morpholinocarbonyl)-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1-yl}-2,2-R2,R2-3-oxopropanoates as single geometrical isomers.

Zinc enolates derived from 1-R-2,2-dibromoethanone reacted with 3-(2-oxo-4a,8a-dihydro-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)chromen-2-one to give the corresponding 1-R-1a-{(1-R-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H]-ones as a single diastereoisomer with cis arrangement of the hydrogen atoms with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane. Reactions of the same electrophilic substrate with zinc enolates obtained from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanones led to the formation of 1-alkyl-1a-{(1-alkyl-1-aroyl-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1-aroyl-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H)-ones as a single diastereoisomer with trans arrangement of the alkyl group and hydrogen atom with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane.

Reformatsky reagent generated from methyl 1-bromocyclohexane-1-carboxylate reacted with N-aryl-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides and N-aryl-6-bromo-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides to give, depending on the conditions, the corresponding N-aryl-(6-bromo)-4-(1-methoxycarbonylcyclohexyl)-2-oxochroman-3-carboxamides or 3-aryl-(9-bromo)-1,1-pentamethylene-2,3,4,4a,5,10b-hexahydro-1H-chromeno[3,4-c]pyridine-2,4,5-triones. The products were isolated as a single diastereoisomer.

Organozinc compounds obtained by treatment of dialkyl 2,2-dibromomalonates with zinc reacted with N-substituted 2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides to give dialkyl 1a-R-carbamoyl-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydro-2H-cyclopropa[c]chromene-1,1-dicarboxylates or alkyl 2-R-1,3,4-trioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H,9bH-chromeno[3′,4′:1,3]-cyclopropa[1,2-c]pyrrole-9c-carboxylates. Reactions of N-substituted 2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides with zinc enolates derived from methyl 4,4-dibromo-3-oxoalkanoates led to the formation of the corresponding 9c-alkyl-2-R-2,3-dihydrochromeno[3′,4′:1,3]cyclopropa[1,2-c]pyrrole-1,3,4-triones.

Zinc enolate derived from 1,1-dibromo-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one reacts with 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enamides and aryl 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates to give the corresponding derivatives of 3-aryl-2-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)-1-cyanocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid as a single stereoisomer with cis arrangement of the hydrogen atoms at the cyclopropane ring. The reactions of the same zinc enolate with 3-morpholinocarbonyl-2H-chromen-2-one and 2-morpholinocarbonyl-3H-benzo[f]chromen-3-one lead to formation of 1-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)-1a-morpholinocarbonyl-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2-one and 1-(2,2-dimethylpropanoyl)-1a-morpholinocarbonyl-1a,9c-dihydrobenzo[f]cyclopropa[c]chromen-2-one, respectively as a single stereoisomer.

Zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-phenylethanone react with alkyl 2-oxochromene-3-carboxylates and methyl 6-bromo-2-oxochromene-3-carboxylate to give, respectively, alkyl 4-(2-aryl-2-oxo-1-phenylethyl)-2-oxochroman-3-carboxylates and methyl 6-bromo-4-(2-aryl-2-oxo-1-phenylethyl)-2-oxochroman-3-carboxylate as a single stereoisomer. Zinc enolates derived from 2-bromoindan-1-one react with alkyl 2-oxochromene-3-carboxylates to give alkyl 2-oxo-4-(1-oxoindan-2-yl)chroman-3-carboxylates as a single stereoisomer.

Zinc enolates formed from 1-aryl-2-bromo-2-phenylethanones and zinc react with dimethyl 2-(1-arylmethylene)malonates to afford dimethyl 2-(1,3-diaryl-3-oxo-2-phenylpropyl)malonates. The latter react with cyclohexylamine, piperidine, or morpholine to give the corresponding monosubstituted amides. The zinc enolate derived from 2-bromoindanone and zinc reacts with dimethyl 2-(4-bromobenzylidene)malonate, yielding dimethyl 2-[(4-bromophenyl)(1-oxoindan-2-yl)methyl]malonate. The final products largely form as a single diastereomer.

Zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanones react with N-cyclohexyl-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides to give N-cyclohexyl-1-alkyl-1-aroyl-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromene-1a-carboxamides mainly as cis isomers with respect to the substituents in positions 1 and 1a. Reactions of the same zinc enolates with N-benzyl-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamide and N-benzyl-6-bromo-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamide lead to formation of 1-aryl-2-benzyl- and 1-aryl-2-benzyl-6-bromo-1-hydroxy-9c-alkyl-1,2,9b,9c-tetrahydro-5-oxa-2-azacyclopenta[2,3]cyclopropa[1,2-a]naphthalene-3,4-diones. The reaction of zinc enolates with N-aryl-2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides in a weakly polar solvent (diethyl ether or ethyl acetate) affords mixtures of cis-N-aryl-1-aroyl-1-alkyl-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromene-1a-carboxamides and their cyclic isomers, 9c-alkyl-1,2-diaryl-1-hydroxy-1,2,9b,9c-tetrahydro-5-oxa-2-azacyclopenta[2,3]cyclopropa[1,2-a]naphthalene-3,4-diones, the latter prevailing. N-Substituted 1-alkyl-1-aroyl-2-oxo-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromene-1a-carboxamides in which the aroyl group on C1 and the carboxamide group on C1a are arranged trans are formed by reactions of zinc enolates with the corresponding 2-oxochromene-3-carboxamides in the presence of hexamethylphosphoric triamide.