Pyridin-2-one synthesis using ester enolates and aryl aminoaldehydes and ketones.

An aldol-like cyclocondensation has been used to prepare heterocyclic-fused pyridin-2-ones from aminoaldehydes and ketones upon treatment with a lithium enolate of ethyl acetate or α-substituted acetates. These motifs are present in a large number of biologically active natural products and synthetic compounds and can be accessed using mild reaction conditions using readily available starting materials. This methodology allows access to pyrimidinopyridin-2-ones, pyrazolopyridin-2-ones, and pyridopyridazine diones with varying substitution patterns.